Kristen's Chronicles

Positivity. It’s something we all strive for in our daily lives but staying positive in the face of adversity can be much more...

It has been a little over 3 months since I underwent 2 additional surgeries for abscesses in my pelvic area due to complications from my...

One of my biggest fears before my trip to California was flying with my ostomy. Not only had I not been on a plane since I was a baby,...

On Wednesday, October 3rd, I began my next big adventure 2,400 miles from home. If you have been following along with my journey, you...

Several days ago, I set up and stepped out of bed, only to watch the room around me go black and spin momentarily. I steadied myself on...

Wednesday, a little over 2 weeks after my 5th and 6th surgeries, I sat in the sterile white examination room within the Johns Hopkins...

Life with an ostomy is many things, including unexpected. As you can probably imagine (or understand if you are an ostomate), having an...

Having to write this update breaks my heart. On Friday, August 10th, I sat in the pre-op waiting area at The Johns Hopkins Hospital...

Tuesday, July 31st: I walked back to my car after work, carefully acknowledging each step on the concrete. When I reached my car I tossed...

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. Sunshine, pool days, ice cream trips- it is truly a season of adventure. But summer also brings the...

If you know me, you know that I am a creature of habit. I love organization, routines, and sticking with what I know works. But for some...

I receive many messages a week with questions related to living with an ostomy from food to lifestyle and everything inbetween, so I...

I have always heard that life will present you with jobs, relationships, and opportunities when the time is right. But sometimes, the...

Almost 2 years ago, I laid in a hospital bed facing major surgery to remove my diseased colon. I was only 72 pounds and could no longer...

Let's face it: doctor's appointments can be extremely stressful at times. You have a short amount of time to speed-paint a complete image...

I have sensitive skin. Wait, scratch that. I have really sensitive skin. My skin is so sensitive that bandaids superglue themselves to my...

Ying and Yang. Hot and cold. Sweet and spicy. Life is about balance and without balance, things can become very.. well, unbalanced....

Exactly a year ago, we were on our way to Johns Hopkins Hospital for my pre-op evaluation before my second surgery. While a lot (a LOT)...

It is August 22, 2016. Cramped into a tiny room with barely enough room for a bed, my parents sit on the side of my bed while I lay,...

Full-time student, full-time chronic illness warrior. As I approach 5 months post-operative, I continue to be amazed by the way in which...