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Sarah Smith

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$500

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Helps provide vital resources to those newly diagnosed with IBD
$150
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$300
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$500
Provides programs to empower children and teens to live fearlessly with IBD

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My Activity Tracking

2
kms

My target 150kms

Total activity 2kms

I'm living fearlessly this September. Will you support me?

If you know me, you’ll understand that I’ve been through a few rough patches over the years. I have Crohn’s disease and this year I’m taking on the Live Fearless Challenge in September, raising awareness and funds for the almost 180,000 Australians living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis including me! 

IBD is one of the most misunderstood chronic health conditions. Yet people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are ‘frequent flyers’ of the hospital system. It strips away income, disrupts education, work, relationships and travel, and can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health.

That’s why I’m getting active this September and aiming to complete 150km. Every kilometre is for the thousands of people living with IBD who face this in silence.

Consider supporting me as I take on the LFC! Your donation will help fund research, patient support, education and advocacy - because no one should have to manage this disease on their own.

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My Updates

Hi All!

Hi All, 

I’m Sarah, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2023 after an arduous few years with my health. 
I have always had some gut issues and was diagnosed with a thyroid condition when I was about 18. I struggled profusely with my weight despite eating healthy as per my nutritionist and doing PT 3x week alongside general weekly movement and activity. I was always on the larger side. In 2020 this started changing rapidly, I lost over 60kg in a matter of 6 months. It felt like I spent all my time on the toilet and no matter what I ate I seem to face consequences for it. 

I then began fainting at random intervals, I could barely get through a day without feeling like I had been steam rolled by a train. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse? All my hair started falling out. 

So began the journey of diagnosis. 
Let me tell you, that was no fun at all. Tests after tests, doctors who despite my tears ignored my symptoms for almost 2 years, I just kept loosing weight, fainting, I’d shake like a leaf. It really got to a point I felt I was on deaths doorstep until my lovely mum came into bat for me. 

On one of my last ED admissions, I was lacking lots of essential vitamins and minerals, I had also gotten use to wearing a bandana to cover all my bald patches and missing hair. A lovely nurse really pushed one of the doctors to further investigate and after an abdominal CT with contrast dye he decided that waiting for my colonoscopy was not an option and placed me on a full strength anti-inflammatory which thank god so far has mostly done the trick. 

That has not been the end of my battle though, my disease during flare ups impacts my entire life. Is there a toilet near where I’m going and how many times will I go? Will I be able to eat this without crapping myself?? When will my next flare up arrive? It’s never ending. 

It also impacts my daily life, my job and my relationship. 
I however, am as stubborn as an ox so giving up has never been an option and the mindset has and always will be “someone always has it worse then me!”

But it’s time we stand up, fight for the right to live fearless with a disease like Crohn’s and no one should have to go to bat with medical professionals for years just to get a diagnosis. 

Thank you for following along! I hope that I can make a small dint in a big cause!!

Love & Light Always, 
Sarbear!