Ulcerative Colitis

My name is Nylaa Smith-Dogan I am 12 years old and I have a condition called ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causing long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the innermost lining of the large intestine. I was diagnosed at age 8years old at the time I was the youngest known case in West Virginia. There are several foods that I have had to give up due to my condition and the possibility of the foods worsening my condition. Any food that takes a long time to digest I am unable to eat. Which a lot of those items were my favorite foods. I love me a good vegetable but unfortunately anything greens does not seem to break down too well. I can not really have a great salad any more which sucks. I struggle with the realization of having to give up some of my favorites. If I were to have foods that don’t digest I will suffer from constipation as well as nausea. This is a condition I will have to live with for the rest of my life. While it might eventually be manageable it is not yet stable. I have to maintain a diet that I’m not use to as well as take medication every day to ensure my health stays intact.