Brittani was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at seven years old, and although her disease and its affects have been chronic she never let it stop her from living her life. Brittani grew up on the Tweed Coast and so it was only a matter of time before like all kids in the area, she took to the water, learning to surf.

Spending much of her younger years in and out of hospital, she was 16 when she learned that major surgery was inevitable. Initially Brittani’s first surgery was a success. However, she then experienced serious complications which meant she would have to undergo further surgery, and ultimately required a stoma/ileostomy bag.

For Brittani, living with an ileostomy was hard to get her head around, but surfing with an ileostomy… that was her challenge. But she was determined not to let her disease get between her and the thing she loved doing. She learnt that if she didn’t eat for 1-2 hours leading up to a surf, wore a one-piece swimsuit and a wetsuit to keep everything in place she could achieve her goals. It was a bit of trial and error as she had a few mishaps with leakage and irritation, but it was all worth it just to be doing something she loved. And she quickly learned ways to manage.

Brittani continued to travel and begun to achieve her goal of creating a viable career from surfing. Then, with various Pro Junior results already under her belt, Brittani won her first Open Women’s NSW State Title 2009 and created history by winning the event 3 years in a row. Winning her first Australian Open Women’s Title in the third year.

In November 2009, Brittani required surgery and a screw after suffering from two broken bones in her ankle during a surfing session at home. While out of action with an ankle injury, Brittani’s surgeon thought it’d be best to do the reversal of the ileostomy bag… this meant 5 months out of the water for Brittani.

After almost 3 years of living with a stoma/ileostomy bag, the reversal surgery was a success in 2010. Brittani was daunted by the thought of the reversal because she had managed to make the ileostomy work for her. And she recognised the freedom it had ultimately given her by creating the conditions in which she could flourish as a surfer. With the outcome of the reversal being unknown, she was scared that her disease would limit her potential… Fortunately this was not the case. And in late 2012 Brittani was told that she was in remission for the first time in 16 years.

However, like many IBD patients Brittani’s pathway continued to go up and down. And 2015 was an extremely difficult year, with Brittani again requiring an ileostomy bag. She spent 10 months out of action, fighting her way through several different surgeries and hospital visits. After more medical complications, Brittani had 20cm’s of her small bowel removed. But in late 2015 she had her second ileostomy reversed after 9 months.

Ever the fighter, Brittani entered the water again just before the new year, with the hope of a fresh start for 2016. Unfortunately, the moments of feeling healthy were short lived and her Crohn’s disease relapsed. Brittani persisted and pushed through it for as long as she could, representing Australia in the 2016 ISA World Surfing Games held in Costa Rica where she managed (despite ill health) to make it through 6 days of surfing.

Brittani also represented Australia as Team Captain in the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games in Biarritz, though after more time in hospital, she has had no choice but to pull back from her competitive surfing career. 

Brittani was recently part of the commentary team for the QS6000 Port Stephens Toyota Pro, and went above and beyond in her role as Team Manager for the NSW Junior Surfing Team at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles.

It’s been a long road, but Brittani is now showing improvement and is determined that she is on the right path. Her focus is on getting her health back to where it should be, while spending as much time as she can just simply loving surfing and being in the water. Brittani aims to continue working within the industry, where she works mentoring young surfers and providing her expertise as a commentator, while also studying a degree in Digital Media and Communications

Brittani has shared her story many times, with many people providing an example of resilience, perseverance and inspiration. She has spoken at Parliament House, charity luncheons and youth camps. She understands the impact of her story in allowing others the comfort of knowing they are not alone, and in encouraging those affected by IBD to reach for the goals.