About Rewrite Crohn’s:
When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2023, I struggled with the fact that most normal people didn’t seem to understand this disease or what I was going through. Many thought Crohn’s just meant “you poop a lot.” While they weren’t wrong about that part, Inflammatory Bowel Disease causes many more symptoms and can affect nearly every part of your life. One of the reasons not many people know about the struggles of IBD is because they never see or hear about the effects of this disease. I realized that I had never seen a character with IBD in any work of fiction: not in books, movies, or TV shows. As a writer and librarian, I was shocked at the lack of IBD representation in popular media. I began a search to see characters like me in fiction.
“I started Rewrite Crohn’s to help others find ways to see themselves in fiction stories”
I wasn’t able to find a comprehensive list of books, movies, or TV shows featuring characters with IBD anywhere online. The list I compiled includes every book I could find with a character who has IBD. I started Rewrite Crohn’s to help others find ways to see themselves in fiction stories, and to show them that Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are normal, and not something to hide or be ashamed of. This disease is incredibly isolating. Reading stories about others like ourselves can help us feel less alone and more understood. I also post blog articles with advice, resources, anecdotes, and experiences about living with IBD. If you or someone you know has IBD, or if you’re just hoping to learn more about the disease, you’re in the right place!
About Me:
My name is Jake Cannington. I am a writer and librarian with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in my small bowel in 2023. My goal is to help others with IBD see themselves represented in fiction stories. I am working on publishing a few stories of my own with characters who have IBD, but I want to support anyone writing about characters with this disease, and to help them connect with the IBD community. I have felt incredibly alone in my experiences with getting diagnosed and finding a treatment that worked for this awful disease. I have been lucky to have a great support network of friends, family, and a caring partner, but many don’t have the support they need. I want to do what I can to help others with chronic illness feel less alone. We’re all part of an IBD family, and you are not alone!
I am, however, not a medical professional and my posts are not meant to be medical advice. Everything I post is from my own experiences and/or research. I would always recommend consulting a licensed medical professional for advice about medical issues.
Rewrite Crohn's 