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At 19 years old, Sophia has already weathered more challenges than many face in a lifetime. 

She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at just 10 years old. At that time, she had no real understanding of what inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) even was. She couldn’t grasp why her stomach would hurt like crazy with or without eating, or why she was using the washroom more than 12 times a day, often seeing blood in her stool.  

While she knew deep down something more was wrong, it wasn’t until her family sought a second opinion with a gastroenterologist that she learned she had Crohn’s. 

Sophia’s childhood looked nothing like that of her peers. Instead of after-school activities, her days revolved around steroids, fatigue, and extended absences from school. While her classmates enjoyed lunchtime, Sophia navigated an exclusionary diet that prevented her from eating solid food.  

Activities she once loved no longer brought her the same amount of joy. Steroid-related weight gain made her feel self-conscious, eventually pushing her to quit Scouts. Judgment from teachers and peers also became a heavy load to bear. It became easier to hide all the pain she felt, both physically and emotionally, behind an unsuspecting smile. 

Trying to find a treatment plan that worked became a challenge, too. Over the years, Sophia knew that whenever her symptoms returned, her doctor would inevitably tell her that another treatment option had failed. 

But even when life felt impossible, Sophia knew she was never facing it alone. Her mom and sister were always by her side, through every hospital stay, every flare, and every moment of uncertainty. Their unwavering support gave her the strength to keep moving forward. 

Living with Crohn’s has shaped Sophia in many ways. It’s taught her that resilience isn't always about being unshakeable. Sometimes, resilience means recognizing when to rest, when to cry, and when to admit that some days will be harder than others. It's also taught her that healing is not linear. There will be setbacks, flares, and moments she may feel she's going backwards, but they won’t erase the progress she’s made.  

Crohn’s has also taught Sophia patience—the kind that comes from listening to her body rather than fighting it, prioritizing her own health without guilt. 

More than that, her experience has given her purpose. Watching the compassion of the doctors and nurses who cared for her, Sophia realized she wanted to follow in their footsteps.  

Today, she is in nursing school, balancing her studies with the ongoing reality of living with a chronic illness. Her goal is clear: to use her lived experience to help others feel understood, supported, and less alone. 

Sophia’s journey is a reminder that chronic illness does not define a person—it reveals their strength. “If you’re fighting your own battle,” she says, “just know that you are not a burden and that you are much stronger than you think. I’m still fighting, and I’m not stopping.”