05/29/2026
I’ve spent some time reflecting on the Gala and on the story I chose to share.
For some, it may have sounded like a long story about my journey with Crohn’s disease, surgeries, and the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
But the truth is…
It was never really about Crohn’s.
Crohn’s was simply one chapter.
The story was about learning to rise.
It was about the scars we carry — the ones on our bodies, the ones on our hearts, and the ones no one else can see.
It was about the moments life knocks us down and asks us if we’re going to stay there.
It was about finding your voice when you’ve been silenced.
It was about standing tall when illness, heartbreak, fear, criticism, or self-doubt try to convince you that you are less than you are.
Every woman has scars.
Some are physical.
Some are emotional.
Some are hidden so deeply that no one else knows they’re there.
My hope in sharing my story was never to have women focus on my scars.
My hope was that they would see their own.
And more importantly…
That they would see how powerful they truly are.
That they would understand that what happened to them does not define them.
That every scar tells a story of survival.
That every setback can become strength.
That every woman has the ability to rise.
Because at the end of the day, the message wasn’t about Crohn’s.
The message was about courage.
The message was about resilience.
The message was about learning to love the woman in the mirror — scars and all.
And if even one woman left that room believing she was stronger than she thought she was, then every word was worth sharing.
❤️ With Love,
Evie
WeAreNotHereToPlaySmall