Check out my blog: http://YARNutopia.com to learn more about my cause and my story.

I started my shop at the end of 2012. I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease of which has been debated repeatedly without a clear diagnosis of Crohn’s or colitis. I have been struggling since I was 16 years old and made the choice to have surgery a week away from my 18th birthday.

I underwent a hand-assisted laproscopic total proctocolectomy with a temporary ileostomy and a J-pouch in 2008. I lived with an ileostomy for some time while my J-pouch healed and had my takedown surgery in February 2009. However, my J-pouch failed, and in November 2010, I underwent another surgery to have a temporary ileostomy for a year in hopes that my J-pouch would heal, but that never happened. I had to have another surgery in September 2011 to make my ileostomy permanent and remove my J-pouch and affected intestine. I have had to have another recent surgery to remove approximately 30 centimeters of intestine in a resection surgery along with a relocation of my ostomy due to a prolapse. Severe complications set in with an internal infection, a subQ leak from my stoma and other issues which nearly cost me my life.

Along this journey, I found it to be therapeutic to crochet, and creating things helps me feel accomplished. I love to see the smile on peoples' faces when I show them my crocheted items. I will be glad to give back as well, since a portion of each sale will be donated to research to find a cure for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Happy Shopping!