Making the Invisible, Visible: Advocating for those with chronic disease
Miss Washington Regan Gallo has an important, and personal, message to share.
When Regan Gallo was just four years old, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the large intestine and rectum.
Now 24, she has learned to fully live into life while navigating the complex needs of managing the disease. So fully, in fact, that last summer she was named Miss Washington 2022 and represented the state at the Miss America competition last month.
Regan, who grew up in Puyallup, didn’t let her disease stop her. She was a competitive dancer, performed in theater, and loved leadership.
Despite an active life, living with a chronic illness was challenging.
“I felt so alone growing up. I didn’t know anyone who had a similar experience or had the same disease,” she said.
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