Ambassadors

Nathalie Garcia

IBD
California

Nathalie Garcia was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when she was just 16 years old following an accident during high school. Before her diagnosis, she was extremely familiar with IBD as her brother almost lost his life due to ulcerative colitis following a misdiagnosis from lack of medical testing. As a result, she grew passionate about improving health literacy and patient advocacy from realizing the flaws in accessing specialized medical care firsthand.  Nathalie is now a Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network Fellow and hopes to share her story with other members of the IBD community to reassure others they are not alone. Her experiences with multiple medications and the psychological and physical effects of IBD have increased her awareness of how IBD affects those diagnosed on a spectrum. She hopes to pursue a career in healthcare and continue her advocacy journey alongside Lyfebulb to inspire others to find hope in spite of their chronic illness and advocate for innovative resources for those with IBD.

STORIES BY Nathalie Garcia FOR LYFEBULB

Paint With Me: Finding a Coping Skill for IBD

Today I talk about how I found what coping skill worked best for me to manage my IBD and my mental health.

“You Don’t Look Disabled”

“Disability is not a bad word. It is not offensive. We should not be afraid of it.”

Disability Makes Me Feel Colorful

“Personally, my disability was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. It is difficult. It is painful. It is exhausting.”

Overcoming Medical Trauma with IBD

“I remember trying to explain that I wasn’t feeling well and then downplayed it for just being tired because I’m used to doing that.”