It’s Not Easy But I Won’t Let My IBD Define Me

We’ve all said it before: “I won’t let IBD define me.” Despite the sincerity of this statement, it is truly difficult to carry out. There are times when we can’t avoid it and have to let others take care of us. It mirrors what Stuart Scott said about his battle with cancer: “And when you […]

Finding an Actual Happy Place with IBD

We all know about the intangible happy place. While it’s generally thought of as a mental state or a figurative place to go to zone out, change moods, or let it all go, there’s the potential for it to mean something even more – something real. Is there an actual happy place that can make […]

Bullying and IBD by Brian Greenberg

I’m not particularly thrilled to mention this commonality, but most of us have probably been judged because of our IBD at some point. In an ideal world, this would never be a concern and everyone would be considerate towards IBD patients (and all those who deal with diseases and differences). Despite a supportive family and […]

The Truth About My Battle With IBD And How Hard It Is

When you have a chronic illness such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for such a long time you begin to want a change – and a normal life. When so many of your days are filled with sickness you want to relish and live in the moments that you aren’t sick or at least […]

Surgery Is In My Future by Brian Greenberg

At times in your life the future comes to mind quite a bit. Usually I try my best to live in the now but certain parts of life can’t be ignored. One of the IIF’s Board members recently had a proctectomy (removal of the rectum) and it got me thinking if I should finally have […]

A Typical Day by Brian Greenberg

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can make life anything but normal. The day-to-day battles which an IBD patient faces can be incredible tough. They look like obstacles which are standing like HUGE walls in front of us, keeping us from the other side and a normal life. But we have to do what we can to […]

Hope For The Future by Sarah Brocker

The below post is written by Sarah Brocker, the IIF’s second Intense Intestines Scholarship winner. I was diagnosed when I was 12 years old and missed 58 days of school that year. At that time, I did not understand the meaning of forever, but I did know that my symptoms were embarrassing and I did […]

What Helped Me During My Dark Days with Crohn’s Disease

My last post was about how everyone in the IBD community, as well as their IBD, is different–and thereby how different methods of awareness and remediation are needed. I’ve continued to think about this topic more and more since the end of IBD Awareness Week. While looking back on my journey with IBD, I began […]

IBD Awareness: IBD Is Different In Everyone, IBD Advocates Are Going To Be Different Too!

Today marks the fifth day of Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week in the United States. From December 1st to the 7th the Intense Intestines Foundation, other organizations and IBD advocates all over the country will be doing our part to raise IBD awareness. Over 1.4 million people in the United States suffer from an Inflammatory […]

My Dark Days With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Many times I get asked if I’ve actually had it bad with Crohn’s disease. The main reason why I believe I’m asked that is because I like to keep a positive attitude and not dwell on a lot the negatives that I’ve been put through during my journey with IBD. The reality is that even […]

Opening Up About My Crohn’s Disease by Lauren Beach (IIF Scholarship Winner)

If I was asked to write a piece like this two years ago, I think my response to it would have been completely different, in fact, I am not sure I would have even been able to answer the question at all. “How do I decide to tell people I have Crohn’s Disease?” It has […]

Intense Intestines Events: Magic and Mischief featuring Vinny DePonto

Join the Intestine Intestines Foundation for a night of magic, mischief and fundraising! Magician Vinny DePonto will wow you with his mind reading, tricks and illusions while you help raise critical funds for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ostomy awareness. I promise you that you’ll leave saying “How did he do that?”. Vinny DePonto has […]

What the Word Ostomy Means to Me

Posted by Brian Greenberg. As today is World Ostomy Day I’m reflecting back on not just the almost 3 years that I’ve lived with an ostomy now, but the years leading up to my ostomy as well. The word “ostomy” is one that many in different chronic illness communities fear. For some people and I […]

Relationships and Dating with an IBD or Ostomy ~ Healthy Relationships and Unhealthy Relationships

Relationships can be an amazing part of life for all of us. Having someone around who cares about you and who loves you can make dealing with life much easier. Getting to end your day with a phone call from the person you are dating can end a bad day in a good way. Going […]

IBD Is Different For Everyone, Even In The Same Family.

As an IBD advocate I find myself talking about Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis all the time. Over the past few years I’ve been amazed at how many families have multiple members with an IBD. My family has two members who are affected by Crohn’s disease. Not only do I have Crohn’s, but my older […]