Tomorrow’s my birthday…the big 3-0 and I can’t help being depressed about it. I know it probably sounds silly to most of you because 30 is still young, but it’s just one of those feelings I can’t help. All of my friends and family pretty much think I’m being ridiculous. I’ve been told “Just be happy you’re alive”, “It’s just a number”, “At least you still look young”, blah, blah, but here’s the thing…I hardly ever get angry or pity myself about what I have been through with my IBD and my four surgeries. I’ve tried to make the best of it and think I’ve done a pretty good job at it. Sure while I was going through my surgeries, particularly surgeries number 1 and 2, there were times I felt depressed and thought that what I was going through was completely unfair. But other than that I think I’ve been pretty good. During the literally hundreds of blood tests, I never complained. When I had to go back to the hospital after my takedown, have two blood transfusions and spend 4 days in ICU because I was severely anemic, I didn’t complain. When I had to have my fourth surgery because my J-pouch twisted, I took it in stride. So the reason I’m so unhappy about turning 30 is because I feel like ulcerative colitis stole almost 3 years of my life. During those 3 years I had thought I was going to build my career and have a baby. Now because of UC, I’m farther behind in my career than I had wanted to be and I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to ever have kids. I realize that life doesn’t always happen the way we plan it. But aren’t I allowed to be angry for at least a couple days? So to everyone who has had to listen to me complain about turning 30, it’s not because of the number, it’s because I feel like a few years of my life have been stolen and I’m just a little bit pissed off about it. I’ll be fine by the weekend :-)