Their collective effort ensures a well-rounded support system for members. The group convenes semi-annually, allowing everyone to gather, connect, and exchange personal experiences. 

Let’s find out more about them: 

Emma Taylor

Hi, I’m Emma Taylor from Wellington. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2015 and have since undergone three surgeries, resulting in a permanent J-Pouch. I enjoy traveling around New Zealand and the world, and since my surgery, I’ve visited five new countries and plan to explore many more. 

Harita Gandhi-Kashyap

I’m Harita Gandhi-Kashyap, diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis in 2007, just before my 19th birthday. The first few years were really difficult. I was navigating my second year of university and had to switch to part-time studies because I couldn’t control my IBD despite trial and error with various medications and diets. I lost a lot of weight and struggled with keeping food down. With no family history of IBD, my parents and brother were on the journey with me. My mum researched extensively and found the CCNZ support group for me. 

I have been very fortunate to have an amazing GP, Dr. Alan Cockburn, and a gastroenterologist, Dr. Sam Islam, who diagnosed me within two weeks of my first symptoms, which resembled food poisoning. Initial treatments with Pentasa didn’t help, and a year into my diagnosis, Dr. Islam admitted me to the hospital and put me on a hydrocortisone drip for 10 days to “reset” my body. I was warned that further hospital stays could lead to surgery. Eventually, a combination of high-dose prednisone, azathioprine, and dipentum put me into remission. For the last 10-13 years, I have (touch wood) weaned myself off all immunosuppressants and now only take Asacol. I can eat most foods without consequences. Although I’ve been in remission for many years, I know this lifelong condition can worsen with age. I get colonoscopies every 2-3 years as a precaution, as the severity of this invisible condition can escalate quickly. 

I make the most of my good health every day because who knows what can happen tomorrow. I run the Wellington CCNZ support group with Emma and Simon. We offer a supportive environment on our Facebook page where people can ask questions and discuss anything related to IBD. We also organise several meet-ups throughout the year that anyone in the support group can attend with their friends and family. In summer, we had a BBQ in Avalon, and we’ve enjoyed bowling afternoons and numerous coffee catch-ups. IBD can be very isolating, but the more we talk about it, the more the world will become aware and accepting of it. 

Simon Kinsey

Simon Kinsey is a cheeky Englishman from Brighton, who's now based in Wellington. He was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2019 and was lucky enough to have surgery during level 4 lockdown. Simon enjoys watching football, gaming and hanging out with his wife and Birman cat. 

If you would like to join the Wellington Support Group at their events, email wellington@crohnsandcolitis.org.nz to be added to their database, or follow their Facebook group.