Man with Crohn's disease shares photo to raise awareness of unseen illnesses

You wouldn't think Ste Walker had a disability just by looking at him, but the British man has to use a feeding tube and a stoma bag because of his Crohn's disease. Now Walker's struggle with Crohn's has gone viral, and he hopes the new online attention will change how people perceive "invisible" disabilities.

On Oct. 25, Walker posted two photos of himself to Facebook and a lengthy message detailing his struggles with Crohn's and his frustration of how others perceive his illness. The post has received over 68,000 likes and 22,000 shares with many Facebook users sending messages of support.

"I've also watched people judge others because they don't look sick, well to me, they're the sick ones, how dare they judge something or someone they don't even know," wrote one Facebook user.

"Amazing how strong a person you are and how far you have come," wrote another.

"I am sick of people saying to me 'you don't look poorly' or 'Crohn's isn't that bad,'" Walker told ABC via Facebook. "I bumped into someone I know [sic] down at the hospital shop and he said 'what are you still doing here you look totally fine' and that just made me blow my top."

Walker was hesitant to post about his condition to Facebook but said that people needed to learn about disabilities that may not be immediately visible on first glance.

"Invisible illnesses need more awareness because there isn't enough knowledge out there about them," Walker told ABC. "Everyone knows cancer, but not everyone knows Crohn's, yet it's just as bad."

Walker, who has a GoFundMe page to help support medical expenses, hopes that the newfound viral attention will help change how people perceive health conditions and disabilities.

"I want people to just stop and think before they go ahead and judge that young man that has just used a disabled toilet, or that young man laughing and joking walking with a walking stick or using his mobility scooter, judging that young man that has got out of the disabled parking spot and walked off fine." Walker told ABC. "I want them to stop the snide comments and dirty looks and the abuse."