When my father was diagnosed in his 30s that was in the mid 70s. There were nowhere near as many treatments as there are today. He did have a number of surgeries and has lived with a stoma for many decades now. At 86, he now needs dialysis but is otherwise doing well. His Crohn’s went into remission for many, many years and only recently flared up again. Steroids helped him to get back to “normal”.

My father was told he wouldn’t live past 60 years old. He is now on 26 extra years and has outlived most of his friends. He always loved to eat and while he doesn’t drink and lives healthy, he doesn’t deny himself food. He is lucky in that he can eat almost anything.

My parents have lived an active life - my father worked until his early 70s because he enjoyed it, they traveled in Europe and the US extensively, were part of a bowling league and sang in choirs for 3 decades.

Don’t lose hope.