Welcome to Dear Colitis
Hello! I'm Demi. Born and raised in the Philippines, I moved to the United States in 2006. In 2015, I received a diagnosis that would change my life: ulcerative colitis. Since then, I've been on a journey to understand this condition and find ways to manage it, striving to maintain as normal a life as possible. Through sharing my story, I hope to connect with fellow Filipinos and others dealing with this challenging disease. In our culture, it's often difficult to discuss such illnesses openly due to stigma or the need to 'fit in.' But silence can be isolating.
To anyone grappling with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), I encourage you to share your experiences as well.
You're not alone in this fight—let's support each other and navigate this journey together.
Hindi kayo nag-iisa, laban lang.
It started in 2014.
This was was taken on my 40th birthday, unfiltered. Smiling but also hiding a little secret - that I’ve been having episodes of bloody diarrhea the past few months. Later on I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and life was never the same since then.
About me.
I was born and raised in Quezon City and reside in San Diego with my husband, Jerry. I graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in Art Studies, but a twist of fate (the need for immediate employment actually) shifted my direction to hospitality, where I stayed for 24 years until the pandemic. Now, I work for a real estate/hospitality management company that allows me to work remotely and from any time zone.
I enjoy discovering new gut-friendly products and experimenting with recipes in the kitchen - especially now that I have to explore healthier alternatives to my favorite foods. I’m on a mission to learn how to make great gluten-free pandesal. Some of the things I miss most are popcorn, sashimi (both of which I haven’t had since my diagnosis), and eating endless amounts of food with gluten and dairy without worrying about bleeding. My love of travel motivates me to stay healthy so that I can explore more places around the world with Jerry. I am currently in remission and keep myself busy by watching K-dramas, learning French, and doing my best to keep my plants alive.
“Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
IAN MCLAREN