I always knew I wanted to be a mom. What I didn’t know was that my path to motherhood would be anything but traditional. And I certainly didn’t know I’d be navigating the journey while managing a chronic illness that some days makes it hard just to get out of bed.
But love has a funny way of giving you strength you never knew you had.
My three beautiful children came into my life through adoption from foster care—a sibling group who needed a forever home, stability, and a mother who would fight for them no matter what. And even though Crohn’s has tried to steal so much from me, one thing it never touched was my ability to love fiercely.
But let me be honest—adopting while managing Crohn’s disease has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
The Challenges: When Two Worlds Collide
Foster care and adoption are filled with challenges—trauma, emotional healing, navigating a system that doesn’t always make sense. Now, add in a chronic illness that flares unpredictably, saps your energy, and forces you into hospital stays, and suddenly, the weight of it all can feel impossible.
Here’s what I didn’t expect when I started this journey:
💜 The emotional stress would trigger flares – Adoption is a rollercoaster. The ups and downs, the uncertainty, the legal battles, the fear that something could change at any moment—it all sent my gut into overdrive. Stress is one of my biggest Crohn’s triggers, and there was plenty of it during the process.
💜 Fatigue would become my worst enemy – Parenting is exhausting for anyone, but parenting three children from foster care? It’s a whole new level of mental and physical exhaustion. My body was already running on empty some days, and now I had three little hearts depending on me for stability and love.
💜 Guilt would creep in – There were days I physically couldn’t do everything I wanted. Days when my energy ran out long before bedtime stories. Days when I felt guilty for needing a break, for being sick, for wondering if I was doing enough.
But here’s what I did know: I was never going to let Crohn’s take this away from me.
The Strength: Pushing Through for My Kids
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from both Crohn’s and adoption, it’s that I am so much stronger than I ever thought possible.
💜 I learned to ask for help – Before adoption, I was stubborn. I didn’t want to admit when I needed a break. But after? I had to learn that asking for help doesn’t make me weak. It makes me a better mom. Whether it’s leaning on family, friends, or even my kids as they get older, I’ve learned that support is everything.
💜 I found new ways to connect – On the days when my body said “no” to playing outside, I found other ways to bond. Movie nights, storytime, cuddles on the couch—love isn’t about how active I can be, but about how present I can be.
💜 My kids taught me resilience – These children, who had already been through so much in their young lives, showed me what true strength looks like. They had lost, they had struggled, but they still loved with their whole hearts. How could I not push through for them?
The Love: Why I’d Do It Again in a Heartbeat
People ask me all the time, “How do you do it? How do you parent three kids at your age with a chronic illness?”
The answer is simple: Because they are mine.
Crohn’s has taken so much from me, but it has also given me things—perspective, gratitude, resilience. And more than anything, it has shown me that love is bigger than any illness.
Yes, there are hard days. There are days when my stomach feels like it’s in knots, when the fatigue is unbearable, when I have to say, “Mommy needs a rest.” But my kids don’t see my limitations. They see my love.
And that? That’s all that matters.
To Anyone Considering Adoption with a Chronic Illness…
If you’re thinking about adopting but worry that your illness will hold you back, let me tell you this: You are more than your disease.
There is no perfect parent. There is only love, patience, and the willingness to show up—even when it’s hard.
Yes, parenting with a chronic illness takes extra planning. Yes, it means prioritizing self-care so you can be the best version of yourself for your kids. But at the end of the day, the love you have to give is what matters most.
So if you’re wondering, Can I do this?—the answer is yes. You already have the strength to fight for yourself. Now, imagine what you can do when you’re fighting for them.
And trust me—there is no greater love than the love of a child who finally knows they are home. 💜
Final Thoughts
My Crohn’s may be part of my story, but it will never define my motherhood.
I may not always have energy, but I will always have love.
I may not always be strong, but I will always show up.
I may not always be pain-free, but I will always be their mom.
And in the end? That’s all that matters. 💜
Stay Strong!
My Crohnstipated Life 
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