Sydney Lucky

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was eight years old, later followed by Psoriatic Arthritis. I quickly went from the girl who excelled in athletics and academics to one who was bedridden, watching my body deteriorate before my eyes. It took a long time before I received a definitive diagnosis, and I found my days of childhood taking a detour, trading the soccer field for stool samples, doctor visits, new meds, bloodwork, and colonoscopy preps.

As a young child, it was difficult to navigate a newfound world of disease, while simultaneously trying to hold onto any sense of normalcy that my peers were experiencing. Although it felt as though everything I once loved was dwindling away, I held on to my love for academics. I am now a UCLA graduate, and I can confidently say my diseases have had a profound effect on my life. 

I advocate because I want to use my own experiences as a patient, from childhood to adulthood, to create a positive impact for others going through similar challenges. I often refer to my diseases as my lifelong partners, the unrelenting forces that travel with me everywhere I go. And those of us that have these life partners deserve to have our voices heard and our rights acknowledged. My health is the driving force behind my interest in the scientific and healthcare field, and I want to provide others with the support and tools to navigate everyday life.