Immediately following giving birth to her daughter, Oona, in June of 2001, Dawn knew that something wasn’t right with her health. It was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life, but her stomach pain was so intense that she couldn’t even go for a walk with her baby girl or dog. She felt trapped in her home, and when she spoke to doctors, they said that she had just had a baby and to give it some time, but she knew in her heart that something was not as it should be.
After some testing, a nurse at the local hospital called her to deliver the news that she had Crohn’s Disease. Dawn had never heard of this disease, but quickly learned that it would impact her life in more ways than she could ever imagine.
She was on maternity leave from work, but when she returned, she experienced heavy anxiety. She was consumed with thoughts of getting sick on the job and what would she do? Crohn’s Disease, for Dawn, was something she was not yet comfortable talking about. Fortunately, she got connected with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation who connected her with her doctor at Jefferson Health, Dr. Tony Infantolino, and her outlook grew brighter.
The Foundation also supported Dawn emotionally through some of her hardest times. With time, Dawn learned how to manage her disease and some days are still better than others. She’s also enjoyed her involvement with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, volunteering at different events and fundraisers, sharing her story and hopefully serving as an inspiration that you can get through it, you can live a happy and productive life, and make a difference in the lives of others who share similar experiences. This is a community of support and encouragement, and that’s why Dawn is so excited to be this year’s 2023 Take Steps Media Honored Hero. She now gets to use her platform that she’s built, despite the stress that IBD put on her career, to celebrate the IBD community at our Take Steps Festival.
Millions of Americans live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis — you likely know someone affected by one of these invisible and incurable diseases. Despite this, many do not fully understand these diseases (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD) and how they impact daily life.
That’s why I’m participating in Take Steps, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s largest nationwide fundraising campaign — to raise awareness and funds to accelerate the progress of breakthrough research and to support critical patient programs. Will you support me with a donation or join me in fundraising for Take Steps?
Please help me reach my personal goal so that, together, we can support the crucial work of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Your donation to my fundraising efforts will help the Foundation invest in cures for the future, while providing support to patients today.
