About The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the leading non-profit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and of improving the quality of life of the millions of Americans living with IBD. TheFoundation’s work is dramatically accelerating the research process through investment in research initiatives, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public. For more information, visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org, call 888-694-8872, or email info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.

About Dana Marshall-Bernstein:

Dana was born on January 31, 1989 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was a healthy baby but at age four everything changed. She started having pain, high fevers and didn’t feel well for a long time. It took doctors a while to figure out it was Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that ravaged her insides. Dana spent as much time in the hospital as she did out. Her bowel re-sectioned so many times, she barely had any left, requiring intravenous nutrition to keep her alive.

In 2015, she underwent a small bowel transplant — a risky surgery that Dana spent months deliberating, but it was the hope for a better quality of life that convinced her to take such a leap of faith. Unfortunately, the transplant failed. She had the new organ surgically removed, and sadly, ensuing complications and infections ultimately took her life at just 28-years-old.

Dana was a beacon of light. She openly shared her story of living with Crohn’s disease and inspired others to share their own journey. Dana used her voice to raise awareness and critical funds to find cures for IBD and improve the quality of life of patients.  

In Dana’s own words:

Courage to Heal

Crohn’s Disease does not define ME 

Only how my body acts. 

Ulcerative Colitis does not define ME. 

Remembering that I DO have choice in how I deal with this disease saves ME. 

Allowing myself to separate the true ME from the disease ensures I don’t lose my TRUE self in the process. 

Grieving my loss of health is healing, just so long as I only remain there briefly. 

Every obstacle I overcome illustrates the true strength we all have within us, even when we may doubt it ourselves. 

To fight the uphill battle against insidious IBD. 

Our best weapons are mindset, attitude, perception, faith, and love.

Holding these attributes close in our hearts at all times is our best bet at a fighting chance.

Every day my body and mind continue to amaze me at how they are able to persevere thru all of this.

A constant reminder that I CAN keep strong and keep going.

Loving myself, family, and those who support me to win this war together, I am not alone.

~Dana Michelle Marshall Bernstein