About me
Name: Carmen Hartgerink
Age: 30
Home city/ country: Ottawa, Canada
Current Occupation: (student, current job, etc.): chronically ill, stay-at-home mom
Time I wake up: 7am
First thing I do in the morning: I get my 2 year old daughter up and fed.
My typical breakfast: I love my eggs for breakfast. Rarely do I have a breakfast that doesn't have eggs in it.
I spend most of my day doing: Trying to keep up with my toddler. As I'm ill, our days aren't all that exciting. I do what I can and do my best to keep her entertained.
After work or school, I like to: After supper, I crash. I have zero energy in the evenings.
A fun night for me includes: I love hosting and cooking for people.
Time I go to sleep: I'm in bed and asleep by 10pm most nights.
Last thing I do at night: I hook up to my nutrition IV bags right before heading to bed.
My favorite thing to do for fun: Spending time with my family.
My biggest fear right now: That I'll never get better.
My biggest hope right now: Is that there will be a cure for short bowel syndrome. That someone will be able to come up with a bionic intestinal tract.
Someday I'd like to: go swimming in the ocean again (because I have a central line for my IV nutrition, swimming is too dangerous for my health).
The biggest challenge I have overcome so far: I was literally on my deathbed. I have had two surgeries which at the end of them was left with only 2/3 of my large intestine, my small intestine completely removed. I now face a life on total parenteral nutrition (IV nutrition).
The biggest challenge I hope to overcome: I hope to overcome my fatigue and depression.
Being a woman is wonderful because: I think we have a very important purpose in life. Whether that's to show the world how strong we are, to fight our way to the top, or to be a stay at home mom, whatever we're called to do as women, we work so hard to make sure that we're the best at it. We put our all into everything.
Being a woman is a challenge because: We have to fight to prove ourselves all the time.
What's your favorite meal or recipe that is a specialty of your culture? Poutine! French fries, cheese curds and gravy. It's glorious!
If you could ask the Mogul community anything, what would it be? What are you hoping to get out of being a part of this community?
I am a Mogul because: I hope that I can make a difference by both letting others who have chronic illnesses know they aren't alone and by also educating others what it's like to be chronically ill.