Indiana Dalton hails Tasman Bridge turning purple for IBD Day

‘It doesn’t just mean that you go to the toilet 20 times a day.’: Indiana Dalton lives with Crohn’s disease and wants you to know the significance behind Tassie monuments turning purple.

Indiana Dalton at Kingston Beach ahead of IBD awareness week. Picture: Linda Higginson

When the Tasman Bridge turned purple on Monday night, it meant more to Indiana Dalton than most.

The monument was one of many across Tasmania turning purple for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day.

The 20-year-old, who had a long and arduous journey to being diagnosed with Crohn’s, says the display was very important.

“I don’t know if people in Hobart really understand what it means because we do have our bridge and places light up like that all the time,” Miss Dalton said.

“But it’s important to me and a lot of people in my support group.

“They [Hobart] probably think it’s just another colour, but it’s actually a really important day to spread awareness for IBD.”

Tasmanian landmarks turn purple to raise awareness for inflammatory bowel disease on IBD day. Picture: Supplied

She described Crohn’s as a disease that never goes away.

“It’s always sort of lingering in the back of your mind, even if you’re in remission, there’s that thought of you’re not, you might not be in remission by next week. It’s very unpredictable,” she said.

Now taking Stelara injections every week to manage the condition following multiple surgeries, the most recent in January, Miss Dalton said she was now able to eat foods like steak and nuts.

Indiana Dalton at a landmark last year when it turned purple for IBD day. Picture: Supplied

The lifelong incurable condition impacts 180,000 Australians, but it still remains a mystery to many, including doctors, Kingston local said.

“It’s something they’ve heard of but they actually don’t know,” she said.

She said it was a disease becoming much more common in young people.

“Yet no one really knows about it or what it is,” Miss Dalton said.

“So I think raising awareness, people could get diagnosed younger, on the right treatment plans and avoid potentially what I had to go through, or avoid long term complications.

“Just so people have an understanding of what it is and it doesn’t just mean that you go to the toilet 20 times a day, there’s a lot more to it.

“It also looks different for everyone.”

Originally published as Indiana Dalton hails Tasman Bridge turning purple for IBD Day