About Us

We were both diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in our 20’s-Jamie in 1999 and Jill and 2002. Jamie spent the first few years with ulcerative colitis on a variety of medications and being in and out of the hospital. In 2004, Jamie had a colectomy – the surgical removal of the colon – and an ileostomy-and over a dozen blood transfusions. Later that year, she had a second surgery to reconnect her small intestine and create a J pouch.

She thrived following the surgery until 2007 when she began experiencing symptoms and extra intestinal manifestations; this included Pyroderma gangrenosum and fistulas. Jamie has since been re-diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has lived with an ileostomy since 2011. Jamie has a successful career, and she travels nationally with the Ashar Group LLC, as EVP of life insurance policy valuations, speaking in front of large audiences.