About

Natalie (Sparacio) Hayden, 42, is a former TV news anchor and reporter living in the Midwest. Her mission in life is to be an advocate for those battling inflammatory bowel disease and to show that a chronic illness doesn’t have to dull your sparkle. Natalie was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in July 2005, two months after graduating from college. After several hospitalizations, countless medications and flare ups, she underwent bowel resection surgery in August 2015.

Natalie and her husband Bobby have three children.

Lights, Camera, Crohn’s covers everything from overcoming struggles to celebrating small victories throughout all parts of the patient journey from diagnosis and beyond. Natalie enjoys sharing stories about family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood in hopes of comforting and empowering others. Since launching this blog in July 2016, Natalie has shared more than 420 articles on this site alone.

Along with her blog, Natalie was the United States Patient Ambassador for the first-ever Global Consensus Conference on IBD and pregnancy and served as the Patient Lead globally. She was the only IBD patient asked to participate in a video series that corresponds to the research. You can watch her patient video here. Leading up to this published research, Natalie had the opportunity to speak on multiple panels at the FDA about utero exposure to medication. In September 2025, Natalie won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Social Health Network for her IBD advocacy efforts.

Natalie was selected in September 2024 to serve as a Social Media Ambassador for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation on a National Level and was chosen as Patient Reporter for Crohn’s and Colitis Congress 2024, where she used her journalistic skills to share medical research from the conference with patients and caregivers through social media and her blog. Natalie’s also on the Advisory Board for IBD Moms and IBD Social Circle (#IBDSC), on the Patient Leadership Council for the Social Health Network, a member of the Patient Engagement Research Council for Janssen, and a contributor to Everyday Health, Healthy Women, The Insighters, Mamas Facing Forward, and IBD Moms. She is also a part of the Patient Partner Advisory Committee for the BIONIC study which aims to explore the use of biological medications in pregnant women with autoimmune disorders or asthma, and their potential impact on both maternal and infant health outcomes.

Natalie is an active volunteer and spokesperson for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She was nominated for and won the Community Cultivator Award for the Social Health Awards in 2022 as a credit to all she does to support and guide those with IBD. She was the cover story for Health Monitor Magazine in October 2024, which was available in doctor offices throughout the United States. Natalie’s been invited to attend countless medical conferences and delivered everything from keynote addresses to speaking on panels alongside world-renowned doctors and fellow patient advocates. She’s passionate about being the trusted voice she so desperately needed upon diagnosis and through each milestone in life.

When she’s not advocating for IBD, Natalie keeps busy with her three kids and loves coaching them in soccer.

Click here for a good belly laugh from her TV days.