Kymberly Harrington has journeyed through a spectrum of experiences as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patient. Below Kymberly talks more about living with IBD as a Black woman, taking control of her diagnosis and the importance of GIs building trust with their African American patients.
“Kym has battled her IBD, her PSC, experienced life pre transplant, and then ultimately post transplant,” says Dr. Sonali Paul, member of AGA Diversity Committee and Kymberly’s GI care provider. “Through it all, she has been a team player with her doctors and advocated for herself and care in a beautiful way that is a testament to her strength.”
What has your journey with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) been like? Was there anything that you had to overcome to get to where you are today in thinking about your health and health status?
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s and PSC at the age of 14. My journey with PSC and Crohn’s has been, at times, overwhelming and at other times manageable. There was a time in high school when I felt like I was so different and not normal like the other students. Then I went into a period where the diseases seemed to get better, maybe in remission, and I felt normal. But while in college, I began to experience extreme fatigue and just never felt well. I struggled to keep up with my assignments. I had always been an A student, but I could not keep up with the college workload, which gave me a lot of stress. My mother would always say, “Don’t let Crohn’s control you, you must take control of Crohn’s.” She meant I needed to focus on the things I had control of so that I could feel that sense of normalcy I was always seeking to find.To get to where I am today, I had to accept that I would never be cured of the autoimmune diseases, but I could be normal in so many other ways. I took steps to manage my diet and started walking for exercise after my transplant. I took classes to help me prepare for medical school. I am now in a post-baccalaureate program getting ready to apply to medical school. My journey has taught me that all things are possible; you just have to figure out the roads to take on your journey.
What is your relationship like with your provider team? Is there any advice that you have for providers caring for Black patients?
I have an excellent relationship with my care providers. My care providers make me feel like I am a part of the team. I can express my concerns to them; they will listen, follow up and provide sound solutions. They truly are a part of my health care family.Providers must remember that there is a long-standing mistrust of doctors and the health care system in Black communities because of past incidents. I witnessed my grandparents and great-grandmother show this same distrust. Unfortunately, their lack of trust in their providers to treat their serious illnesses resulted in their premature deaths. Patients also want to feel as though they are heard and understood. Therefore, when treating Black Americans, the provider must win their patient’s trust.
