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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 12, 2015 | 40 Crohn's disease activist speaks at Oakville event by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Health "Connected to your Community" Jessica Grossman lived in pain for most of her childhood. Diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of eight, she struggled to cope with the debilitating disease that inflamed the lining of her gastrointestinal track, disrupting her body's ability to digest food, absorb nutrients and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. Grossman, who now lives a life in near-perfect health, shared how lifechanging surgery helped her move past those difficult years. The Toronto resident was the guest speaker at a Crohn's and Colitis Canada Halton and Peel chapters' educational event that took place Saturday (Nov. 7) at the Syl Apps Youth Centre, 475 Iroquois Shore Rd. It was held in celebration of Crohn's and colitis awareness month. Canada has among the highest rates of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the world, with almost 233,000 Canadian adults and children living with these debilitating diseases -- 129,000 with Crohn's and 140,000 with colitis. At the height of Grossman's battle with Crohn's, she was bedridden in the hospital, unable to eat because of the pain she felt and unable to move because of how weak she was. In 2003, she underwent ostomy surgery as her last hope. An ostomy is a surgically-created opening in an organ of the body created during an operation such as a colostomy, ileostomy, or gastrostomy; a stoma. Grossman's bodily waste passes through the stoma (an internal organ) into a special bag on the outside of her body that she empties on a regular basis. "Living with an ostomy is normal, even when life is not," said Gross- Living with an ostomy is normal, even when life is not. Crohn's and Colitis Canada guest speaker Jessica Grossman man who was able to carry on with a healthy life ever since the surgery. Today, she works in digital marketing and is founder and spokesperson for the online awareness campaign, Uncover Ostomy. For more information, visit www. chornsandcolitis.ca. Jessica Grossman was the guest speaker at a Crohn's and Colitis Canada Halton and Peel chapters' educational event Saturday (Nov. 7) at the Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville. Grossman spoke about how ostomy surgery changed her life. | submitted photo Why Do Oakville Families Trust Us with All Their Dental Needs? CosmetiC & Family Dentistry · implants invisalign · Dentures... From start to Finish! CROWN/DENTURE REPAIRS & RELINES, WHILE YOU WAIT Mon. - Fri. 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 1pm seniors DisCount Free Consultations New patients & ChilDren welcoMe OAKVILLE'S ONLY DENTAL OFFICE WITH A LAB ON PREMISES 2274 Lakeshore Rd. W. (at East Street) Oakville 905-827-2066 · www.brontedentist.com Dr. Michael Vo d.m.d · Kim Chung d.d. Fabio De Rango Pharmacist/Owner Voted Oakville's Favourite Pharmacist & Pharmacy Your best defense against the flu is the flu shot! Come and get your flu shot today. DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 478 Dundas Street West | 905-257-9737 Canada Post DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 2501 Third Line | 905-465-3000 Open 24 Hours - 7 Days a Week www.shoppersdrugmart.ca