On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States will listen to the opening argument of the Texas v. California case whose decision will ultimately determine the fate of healthcare in this country. Specifically, determining whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, will remain the law of the land…
The alarms on my phone go off, reminding me of the adventure planned for the day. A nice subway ride to the museums with lunch at the new Harry Potter cafe downtown. He’s been looking forward to it for weeks. His NASA space suit is all laid out for the Apollo 11 exhibit, his wallet…
Since its inception, IBDMoms has continued evolving. Our advocacy is as fluid as motherhood as we roll with the tide of changes and advances. It makes sense that we have a new partnership beginning this May, when we celebrate moms and motherhood in the United States. IBDMoms has teamed up with Gali Health for May…
Although we celebrate World IBD Day every year, this year, the global IBD community seems a little bit closer as we navigate the pandemic. We find ourselves leaning on each other a little bit more for support, information, resources, and tips. We’ve discovered new strengths and creativity as we pilot a course of education and…
During the school age years, there are many opportunities for volunteering, both at school in the classroom and for extracurricular activities like scouting. One rite of passage for parenthood is in going on field trips as a parent volunteer. People with IBD might shy away from going on these trips because they can be challenging…
There’s no shortage of the message that parents should engage in “self care.” In fact, it’s rather turned into something like a platitude. We’re hearing this message and seeing it everywhere, especially on social media, but are we actually taking in what it really means? In many cases, probably not, because most of us are…
I’m always surprised at how often I’ve given out the advice to new mothers that they take advantage of using a crock pot for making dinner, and the idea is a new one to them. I grew up helping with getting dinner on the table and so I went into my own household with a…
Does anyone else who’s a mom find the question, “so what do you do?” a loaded question? When a stranger or acquaintance asks me, I hesitate with my explanation. The question is not malicious in nature, but as a “stay at home” mom of two who are under age three, I wear a lot of…
This post was created as part of my partnership with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA); however, all opinions and personal experiences expressed are my own. In 2011, I became a single mother. In 2012, I lost my colon due to complications from living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I was suddenly a new mother with…
Living as a patient can be claustrophobic and transparent all at the same time. The disease can leave your body and mind vulnerable to other conditions as well as people’s opinions. There are opinions on diet, medications, lifestyle choices, and sometimes family planning. The decision to start a family should be a personal one between…