Erin Bradley

I'm living fearlessly this September by participating in the Live Fearless Challenge 2024

I’m getting active to achieve 150kms and raise awareness and much needed funds for Australians living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis! 

Here’s a bit of my story as to why I’m doing this challenge 

Hi my name is Erin and I live with Crohn’s disease. I live with a less common version of it as I have it confined to my small intestine where scopes couldn’t reach and find. It’s officially been a year since I was diagnosed, I did this challenge a year ago just post to starting pred (steroids) and being diagnosed after 20 months of fighting the system and 18 months of being tubed fed into my small intestine. This time last year I was just starting to get my life back after it all been taken away for so long. I thought back then that was the best it could be and I was honestly so grateful for all I’ve been given just to be at that point, but I’m very happy to say but it’s gotten so much better. My life is back on track. I’ve put back on all the weight that I lost, I’m happier than ever and now trying to help others in the same situation that I was in. The average time it takes to be diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease is approximately five years and although I was diagnosed sooner than that I had been sick previously leading up to being tube fed and I just went downhill really quickly. I was left in a system being gaslighted by doctors and being told it was in my head even with calprotectin levels well into the thousands. I thought I was honestly and truthfully a goner at this point but I want to show everyone that there is hope even when you feel like there’s no way out. It takes one person to listen to be able to get help and by participating in this challenge I hope to bring more awareness to these diseases and a chance for more people to be heard and get to be happy again just as everyone deserves

Thank you for all your support ?