“I don’t really remember, but apparently every time I got really bad and was in the
hospital I said it before they gave me something or did a procedure/test! My mom
documents everything I’ve said or done on this journey. I like the saying, so now I use it
often as motivation.”
Through her writing and advocacy work, Brooke makes sure that she is always there to
lend a helping hand to those who may not understand their diagnosis. “Educate yourself,
your family, spouse and friends. Don’t let it get you down, talk it out. Don’t expect it to go
away. Accept the diagnosis and live your life accordingly, don’t fight it.”
More About Brooke
In 2008, Brooke was diagnosed with Left-sided Ulcerative
Colitis. Though it was a mild case at diagnosis, the disease
rapidly advanced over a period of 4 years. In April 2012,
Brooke was given a total colectomy after spending weeks in
the hospital fighting a losing battle with her diseased colon.
She was given an Ostomy as a transition between her
colectomy and J-Pouch for five months. She now lives with an
internal J-Pouch and her health continues to change for the
better. Still without insurance, arthritis, and the inability to
work as much as she could before, Brooke advocates for all
those with severe and mild cases of Crohn’s & Colitis.
Brooke has advocated for the rights of children, education, healthy families, healthy living
and healthcare before she had a child of her own. She has been active in supporting
charities that advocated for patients with Colitis & Crohn’s, AIDS, Cancer, Asthma &
children with Autism. Brooke is currently working with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of
America as their lifestyle ambassador, blogging and advocating for patients with Irritable
Bowel Diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s & the various forms of Colitis. Brooke & the CCFA are
taking the mission of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles and empowering these and all
autoimmune disease patients with resources and tools to handle parenthood and their
disease without difficulty.
Before her life as a mother, Brooke worked in film and television production and her
passion for the arts and filmmaking spread into other adventures such as photography,
writing and acting. With the takeover of motherhood & colitis, Brooke’s work in production
halted. However, Brooke continues to photograph. Working V?FW"F?R??R&????&'????F?w&???'&???R?2??F?w&?VBf?"7F?'27V6?2????&?&??6??VWFR?f?&?P??#??