Going from patient to caregiver.

In a year that included a half-marathon, new relationships, and a heaping load of stress, my j-pouch served me well yet again.

When you live with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you reach breaking points. But you keep going. Today, on World IBD Day, it's important to recognize all that so many have had to endure.

If you've ever wondered what life with a pelvic pouch is like, I think you'll find some answers in here. Also, I've made it to two years with my J-pouch! Yay!

I've taken a lot from this country, and because this country was so willing to give, I now have the chance to contribute to it again.

At 30 years old, I can divide my life up to this point into three versions. Not every version of myself has been a successful upgrade over the last, and there's much to do to improve the current one.

It's great when mainstream media outlets cover IBD stories and research findings. But when they do, they rouse a small group of wannabe experts at the ready to spread unsubstantiated misinformation.

I look back on my first year with a j-pouch as a relatively successful one, although there are still complaints and challenges and aspirations yet to be fulfilled. Here's a look at what I’ve learned after a year of living with my altered innards.