In 2008, at just 20 years old, April Harris’s “invincible” world was shattered by a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (UC). What began as a shocking discovery quickly turned into a 15-year journey through a healthcare system that April describes as “ableist” and profit-driven. For nearly eight years, she found success and remission using Remicade, but the constant anxiety of “jumping through hoops” to maintain insurance coverage eventually led her to a heartbreaking decision: she quit the treatment that worked simply to escape the fear of a sudden, four-figure medical bill.
April’s story highlights the physical and emotional “roller coaster” of IBD. She candidly shares the trauma of severe flares—crying on the bathroom floor and losing her hair—and the “prednisone-induced euphoria” that inevitably crashed into manic anxiety and exhaustion. After attempting to treat her UC naturally to avoid insurance battles, her disease progressed to a point where biologics were no longer an option, but a necessity. Now using Humira, she still faces the annual “fight” for prior authorization and the stress of missed doses due to administrative lapses.
Today, April has reclaimed her life. She transitioned from a traditional 9-to-5 to running her own freelance business, a move that provides the flexibility her health requires. She is no longer waiting for “perfect” health to be happy; instead, she is an active advocate and hobbyist who loves roller skating and rock climbing. April shares her story to serve as a “survival guide” for the newly diagnosed, putting a human face on the statistics and urging policymakers to decouple “good” insurance from employment. Her message is clear: a diagnosis changes your life, but it doesn’t end it.