Charlotte's Story

Hello!

My Name is Charlotte

I have Crohn’s Disease and a permanent ileostomy. I categorize myself as an adventure-seeker and lover of the outdoors. I spend my free time roaming around Alaska with my friends, visiting my amazing family, traveling, and spreading ostomy awareness through my blog backcountryostomy.com I work as an Occupational Therapist, and I enjoy combining my knowledge on those two topics to improve mine and other’s lives for the better. I recently started a business, Restorative Ostomy Solutions, to support other Occupational and Physical Therapists in working with individuals with ostomies!

I was originally diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at age 17, but my diagnosis later changed to Crohn’s Disease. I had my first IBD-related surgery in 2007, and I’ve undergone 5 other major abdominal surgeries since. I lived with a j-pouch for 6 years, and finally decided that an ileostomy was the right choice for me in 2013. It was a long road to acknowledging and accepting that an ostomy could change my life for the better. But now I realize that it truly has.

My goal is to not let my ostomy prevent me from pursuing my passions. I hope to share my knowledge and experience with others so that they can feel empowered to do the same!