Maddie Hanke

For the longest time I struggled with coming to terms with being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.Then I got an ostomy bag after an unsuccessful surgery and it felt like the world had some sort of vendetta against me. I was upset, scared, and lonely. Not because I didn’t have a support system, I do, but because after everything I’ve gone through I still haven’t met someone else like me. Someone who I could share my experiences with and feel understood. I never took the initiative to join any groups to try and make friends because the reality of having Crohn’s was just too much for me to bear. However, and finally, after years, I was able to accept the part of myself that was weighing heavily on my shoulders. I created a presentation for a class I had during my final year in college on Crohn’s where I talked about it as well as how I’ve lived with it. I wanted to advocate for myself and others, be the person I wish I had earlier on, and that was my beginning towards achieving that goal. When I found Girls with Guts, a sense of belonging consumed me. It was the kind of community I knew I wanted and needed to be part of so when volunteer opportunities opened up I jumped on the bandwagon right away. I’m so excited and extremely grateful for the rewarding experience I know I’ll have here and the incredible women I hope to meet.