Change can start within the heart of one

Hi! My name is Shannon Ingle, I am a 30 yr old, disabled veteran and mother of 3, living with Crohns disease and have decided to write/self publish and self distribute a book to promote awareness and understanding and in turn, I will be using proceeds to donate to families in need because of this disease. My mission does not end with this book. This book is only the first step, I truly want to be able to help as many people as I can.  Throughout my personal journey, I have struggled with the physical implications of the disease, but my true struggle has been with the perception of others. I want to change that..What is Crohns disease? It is an autoimmune disease located within the digestive track. It can occur anywhere from the tip of the tongue to your anus, but Crohns is usually found in the smaller intestines. Crohns disease can be genetic but is also environmentally driven, meaning that no one is safe. The disease does not discriminate, and anyone can be affected. It can be caused by something as simple as a cold. When the body sends out the antibodies to fight the virus, somewhere in this process, the body mistakes the antibodies for the virus itself; This begins a never ending cycle of attacking/protecting itself. When this happens, the intestines become inflamed and ulcers develop throughout the intestines. This causes severe pain which is further agitated as the food tries to pass through. The more times the intestines swell, it begins to form scar tissue which will build and build until it is impossible for food to pass through and surgery is required to fix this. With the intestines inflamed, it also causes many trips to the bathroom, sometimes exceeding 30 times a day (this also leads to dehydration which further complicates it). Crohns disease does not impact only the digestive tract, it can have a negative impact on the rest of your organs, your joints, eyes, also causes skin rashes, memory loss and severe fatigue. With Crohns, the body does not absorb necessary vitamins and minerals like everyone else, leading us to have severe B-12 deficiencies as well as anemia. The level of fatigue experienced can vary with each individual, but for man>y, the exhaustion is debilitating. We wake up more exhausted then when we fell asleep and there are many days that we aren't able to get out of the bed, period! Fun outings, Household chores, grocery shopping, parenting, even holding down a job can be very difficult. This is where the false perceptions come in. We look normal on the outside, therefore people think it can't be that bad. Not getting out of bed due to lack of energy and and pain so intense that it hurts to breathe is interpreted as exaggerations used as an excuse to be lazy. Watching from the shore as kids swim and splash around in the ocean is interpreted as a combination of lazy and bad parenting. Not being able to hold down a job is interpreted as not having worth ethic and once again, laziness. This is not okay. Through research and through talking about this with others who I've realized that this isn't just my problem. We are all experiencing this. These are not character flaws, these are symptoms of the disease itself. We are not the monsters, the disease within is!How will anyone know, if noone is willing to speak out?? I am willing and determined to make a difference and bring some peace to those suffering with this. A support system is so crucial and a lack of support is 100% detrimental. Noone should have to suffer alone or continually be put down for this. The book will include my story and the story of many others. I want to show 2 things-Differences and similarities. The differences- Everyone is at a different place with their disease. Some people never have to have a surgery and have very few flares, while others have surgery counts high into the double digits and every single day is a struggle to even exist. So, it will show people that even though you know a guy who has it and he's fine, it dosent mean that I am fine, we're all different. The similarities- especially amongst those with moderate to severe Crohns, the symptoms are very similar. This is a helpful tool for the unbelievers. If someone has a "not so supportive" support system, they can give them this book and they can see through the stories of so many individuals that it's not exaggerated. This is real, and this is our reality. We don't want anyone to feel sorry for us, we just want people to understand so that they are able to be a true support to the loved one who needs it. Please help me make a difference. If you have any tips on writing and publishing, funding, or if you or someone you know has Crohns disease or Ulcerative Collitis who would like to include their story, please send them my way!! I can be reached through Facebook (Shannon Bueche) or through email [email redacted] I am open to all ideas and suggestions and I thank you so much for taking the time to read this!!