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Hannah Thomas shares her journey with Crohn's, and how it led her to embark upon a new artistic adventure.
Creative Flares: Hannah's Story
Hannah always loved to be creative, but when Crohn's Disease affected her ability to work in a conventional environment it became an even bigger part of her life.
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I went through a five-year period of testing with no diagnosis. I lost a considerable amount of my bowel, which has affected my ability to absorb nutrients. I've struggled with active disease for years and had several surgeries.
Working from home, Hannah produced greeting cards and commissions, and studied psychology and art to inform her skills. Life drawing became her passion.
Because of her Crohn's, she developed a tendency to work quickly.
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I'm unable to spend a lot of time on any one thing because I'm always in and out of the toilet. Or I might start something and be inspired, only to find the next day I'm too unwell to work on it. My best work is done in a short period of time.
A couple of years ago Hannah felt so ill that she had just a few usable hours in a day. The Crohn's was unrelenting, alongside anaemia, and muscle and joint problems.
She longed for something to do with her days, so she set herself a project - to produce a 'selfie' a day for one year.
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I set up a mirror and began drawing. I didn't realise how challenging it would be, so I began journaling on the back of the selfies, recording my physical and emotional journey through the illness. It gave me a sense of achievement, freedom of expression within my isolation and a fantastic body of work.
Hannah didn't know it at the time, but the project became a therapeutic tool that guided her through the illness into new treatment, which for now has opened up her life again.
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This is part of an article from Connect magazine. If you'd like to read other stories like Hannah's, and also enjoy all of the other features in Connect, become a member.
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