Hi, I’m Lauren — 32 years old, a survivor, a warrior, and someone who’s learned to embrace every inch of herself, scars and all.
Life has thrown me some heavy challenges: I live with a permanent ileostomy due to Crohn’s disease and a past battle with rectal cancer. I also navigate a complex world of chronic illnesses, including seizures, type 1 diabetes, gastroparesis, diabetic retinopathy (requiring eye injections), neuropathy, and more. It hasn’t been easy — not physically, not emotionally.
For a long time, I felt like people saw only my bag and not me. I was insecure, afraid of how I smelled, how I looked, and whether I’d ever be seen as beautiful again. But somewhere along the way, I started making jokes about my disabilities — not to hide them, but to take the power back. Humor became my shield, then my bridge to self-acceptance.
Through that journey, I found my voice and my strength. I now see myself clearly — a resilient, radiant woman who brings light into the dark spaces. I’ve learned that beauty isn’t about perfection; it’s about owning your story, showing up as you are, and loving yourself without conditions.
This is me. All of me. And I’m proud of it.
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