My name is Deriane. I am 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. I was diagnosed with UC two days after my birthday in March of 2009. Shortly after Christmas, I was feeling very sick. I couldn't stand up for long, walk for long, or be far from a bathroom for long. I didn't tell my parents about the blood in my stools. Then my parents took me to my doctor because of my sudden weight loss. He asked me questions about my bowel movements, and I lied once again. The reason that I would lie about what was going on in my body was because I was so scared about what would happen at the doctor's office. Around my birthday, things started to get worse. I was falling down, vomiting and I had abdominal pain. Then the week before spring break I stayed home for a week because of my stomach problems. My parents made me go to the doctor because they were worried. Than I finally told the truth to everyone.

March 12, 2009 was the day that I was admitted to the hospital. I had lost almost 50% of my blood and 20 pounds. I had OPC, EGD, and a colonoscopy done wit in a day! After those procedures I was taking around 24 pills a day. Now my doctors are leaning more toward Crohn's instead of UC. I go to a major children's hospital every month for blood taken and tests. I have told my family and friends about what has happened to me in the last five months of being diagnosed, and they all understand.

During my time of being sick I had lost most of my social life, but now I am feeling better and I'm going out with my friends. I am going out for volleyball for my sophomore year. I believe that the medicine that I am taking now is helping me a lot, and I appreciate all the things that the doctors have done for me since March '09.