What Makes Your Cards Different?

Today, there are a few things that need to be addressed. Ever so often I get questions or comments about my Medical Alert and Restroom Access Cards–and why I charge for them when there are “free” items out there for patients to acquire. A few years back, I wrote a post specifically about the Restroom Access Cards. But because I still get questions, I want to expand on that post. This is a long one, so I implore your patience.

Just Your Friendly Neighborhood Ninja

Many of you know that I have been battling ulcerative colitis since 2011. Meaning, I’m just your average IBD patient. Previous to diagnosis, I was just a 26-year-old graphic designer, working as the in-house media designer at a church in Mississippi. A lot has happened since my diagnosis including a big move, career change, marriage, surgery and a baby.

I am no longer on the graphic designer career path. I still use Adobe Illustrator CS3 which is so outdated I’m not going to be able to use it much longer. Today I’m a professional IBD advocate. While my husband is gainfully employed, I do not have a consistent income. Colitis Ninja is not part of some big corporation or company. Colitis Ninja is simply a one woman show. It’s just me running my website and all my social media outlets.

No Relation

I will freely admit to you that I have done work for organizations in the past. But I am not affiliated with these companies outside of the advocacy work I have done for them. I am simply one voice that has spoken out on behalf of myself and other patients. Because of my blog, social media and the connections I’ve made, I have been able to clearly voice the needs of the community and share my experience in hopes that patients everywhere receive better care. Because we do need better care and treatment options. We also need a cure.

Advocacy is My Passion

I love advocacy. There’s something so fulfilling about being there for someone else who is going through exactly what I did. If you had asked me in the early years of my disease journey if I would ever be speaking out publicly about my battle, I’d say no. Today, I feel it was my destiny all along. My heart is for those who are hurting. My mission is to give others hope. While there are many other advocates out there (and they’re all important with unique stories and gifts), I feel that I bring something different to the table.

There’s a Cost to Advocacy

Everything you do in this world costs money. Even advocacy costs money. Running my blog costs money. The outdated software I use had to be bought and paid for. My computer cost money. I need the internet (again, it’s not free) to update my blog, connect on social media, and check my email. I could keep going about the money aspect of it, but I think you get the idea.

Time is another cost to advocacy. I cannot tell you how many hours that I’ve willingly poured into my advocacy efforts. Again, I love it and would never complain about the work I do because I truly feel like my efforts make a difference. Advocacy is truly a labor of love.

Gifts, Resources, Abilities and Curses

As stated above, my background is in graphic design. There’s a HUGE informational and educational need in the IBD community. As a patient who also connects with other patients on a daily basis, I am able to clearly see the needs of our community. Due to my resources and connections, I am able to fulfill those needs. So, what are those needs?

Information

Patients–especially new ones–are looking for information. Easy-to-access information that’s easy to understand. I am able to–on my own time, and many times at my own expense–create content. Content that helps to explain ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and several other aspects of these diseases. This content includes personal stories, blog posts, infographics and even print media.

Medical Alert Cards

Yes, I truly believe there is a need for Restroom Cards and Medical Alert J-Pouch Cards that you can easily get. You ask, “What about the free ones that (fill-in-the-blank) gives to patients?” There are several things about these “free” cards that bother me.

Background

Before I explain why the free cards bother me, I need to give a little background into why I started creating the content that I do. I’ll illustrate that with my most recent surgery and subsequent post-op appointments.

“Let Me See What You’ve Got Going On…”

When I was being prepped for my recent fistula surgery, I spend a good amount of time trying to explain to the anesthesiologist and nurses what a j-pouch is. They still didn’t understand, asked to see my bag and ended up putting in their notes that I had a colon resection. Insert facepalm here.

“Where Can I Go to See This?”

At my post-op appointment with my surgeon, I showed him my j-pouch infographics. He smiled, studied them, and told me they were “pretty damn accurate. Then he asked me where he could see them. He said he needed something to visually show his patients, so I gave him my web address and he wrote it down.

We need resources. Information not only for patients, but also for those who care for patients. We need a way to easily explain to others (as well as our medical professionals) what our issues and diseases are. And we need to educate them about our busted (and repaired) guts.

The Truth About “Free Cards”

There are companies and organizations out there who offer “free” Restroom Cards. Some of them claim to be “free” but they actually come with a “membership fee.” Others actually do offer cards free to patients. But I’m here to tell you that they’re not really free. Someone, somewhere had to pay for the production and printing. And when the funds for that particular project run out, then what? Where will patients have to go to get the cards?

Free cards, from what I’ve gathered, are not of good quality. Many of them are made of paper and therefore are not durable enough to withstand the test of time. Nor do they convey the urgency or professionalism that meet this patient’s professional and personal criteria.

How My Cards Are Different

I pride myself in quality. Not just in regard to the product I produce, but also the content of the product. I wish I could offer these cards for free to patients… but again, I’m just me and things like this cost money. I saw a need and felt compelled to meet that need. The cards will still be there as long as the need exists. My cards were created for the patient. The cards are also created to help educate others about Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis. On each card, there’s a link conveying the urgency of the situation. Soon, I will also be including links for people to learn more about inflammatory bowel diseases.

The funds from the cards not only fund the project itself, but it helps run my website. My website in turn is available for patients around the globe who are hungry for information and support. And I will still be there when the funding for “free” cards runs dry.