Patient Stories

She was 17, eating lunch at school, when everything changed. Diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and pancreas divisum, Halle shares her story, and what she wishes more people knew about living with this disease.

Amanda knew something was different. After 13 years of living with Ulcerative Colitis, she knew these pains were not the same. What followed was months of misdiagnosis, five more hospitalizations, and a long road to finally being diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and EPI. This is her story.

Diagnosed just before her 20th birthday, this patient opens up about years of hospitalization, feeling unseen, and what she’d tell someone newly diagnosed with pancreatitis.

My very first attack was when I was 10 years old. I’ll never forget the impact it had on my outlook on the world as a child. I was lucky and it went into remission for a few years until I was 13. Then, it hit me hard and never subsided. I had more hospital

Crystal Kaya, a mother from Seattle, shares her journey with her son Atlas, who suffers from chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosed at just five years old, Atlas endures excruciating pain daily, with no cure in sight. Crystal’s relentless search for answers led her to Mission Cure. Watch their story and see the impact of hope in the

When I was 25, I was diagnosed with my first bout of acute pancreatitis which started a long journey with multiple ups and downs. I was hospitalized 5 times in 6 months, with a cancer scare due to a mass on my pancreas (thankfully benign) and a trip to the Mayo Clinic to ultimately be

How Has Pancreatitis Impacted You? It has taken me a while to get the courage to share my story. Today is a particularly bad day, I am in bed with my kids and dog while we cuddle and watch tv shows. They know that I can’t help being sick, and they are all so supportive

My journey with pancreatitis began with intense abdominal pain, relentless vomiting, and fever. Initially misdiagnosed as gastritis, I endured six months of endoscopies while my weight dropped from 67 kg to 40 kg (148 lbs to 88 lbs), and my creatinine levels soared due to excessive medication. A turning point came when a new doctor

My first pancreatitis attack began with constant stomach pain radiating to my back for weeks. My dad thought I was having normal gut issues and gave me antacids. Then, one day, I stood up and began puking. The pain I felt – I’m scared looking back on it. The next thing I knew, I was