Young woman's blog on living with Crohn's clocks up 26,000 hits

Gabi Cox, aged 21 and a former St Bartholomew’s School pupil, was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a painful condition which affects the bowel, when she was aged 16, which rapidly worsened until she was hospitalised last year.
Between December and her surgery in June, Miss Cox was largely housebound and often had to use a wheelchair due to arthritis, a painful side-effect of Crohn’s disease. Just three weeks ago she had an ileostomy which could see her have to wear an ostomy pouch for the rest of her life. She may also have to have her large intestine removed in the future.
However, she is determined to live her life to the full and has now turned to the internet to help encourage others in her condition to do the same.
She said: “I want to banish the stigma of bowel disease and make it okay to talk about and not something anyone should be ashamed of.
“Most people do not understand it and my blog takes everyone on my journey with the disease.”
Throughout her illness, Miss Cox has remained dedicated to her studies, despite missing the equivalent of a school term in each academic year since her diagnosis.
She was forced to return home after moving to study fashion promotion and imaging at the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom, but continued her studies at home and completed her second year with a remarkable 2:1 grade.
She said: “Being a fashion student I want to show everyone that despite having a bag I can still look young and on trend.
“I can still live my life despite everything and it shouldn't hold anyone back.”
In just seven weeks Miss Cox’s blog has raked-in over 26,000 views, and celebrities including Alan Sugar, editor of Elle UK magazine Lorraine Candy and Made in Chelsea star Caggie Dunlop have promoted it via Twitter.
She is determined to be recovered enough for an internship at Vogue magazine in September and head back to university for her final year in October.
For more information on Miss Cox and how she copes with her disease, visit www.giftofthegab1.blogspot.co.uk/