Due to a rare disorder that only 150 people around the world suffer from, Sara Gebert, 19, has been unable to eat or drink anything in two years. Unfortunately, the worst part of her condition is that some doctors deny there is anything actually wrong with her. As Gebert looks to get back into the swing of normal life by attending college and working toward her goal of becoming a medical doctor, she is also hoping to raise awareness for Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (CIPD).

"One time a doctor told me he was here to help me with my 'pseudo problem.' That's when I get on my soapbox," Gebert told NJ.com. "They should have listened to me and my family from the start. If they had believed how bad things were, they could have made things better from the start."

According to the National Institutes of Health, people with CIPD are affected by symptoms resembling blockage or obstruction of their intestines. Although there is no intestinal blockage, symptoms tend to be caused by nerve or muscles problems that hinder the movement of food, liquid, or air through the intestines. In Gebert’s case, doctors believe a virus may have attacked the nerves in her digestive system.

Gebert came to be diagnosed with CIPD after a severe stomachache lead to her vomiting around 60 times a day, even when she did not eat or drink. After spending a couple of weeks in the hospital, she was given a diagnosis and told she was suffering from “intestinal failure.” Her vomiting was caused by the intestines acting as if they were blocked and any food or drink she consumed mixing with stomach acid.

To stop her from vomiting, doctors had to surgically insert a drainage tube into her stomach. The severity of Gebert’s condition led to her being fitted with a feeding tube to provide her with essential nutrients. While this solution is currently keeping her alive, it also puts her at risk to infection, since bacteria that is supposed to move through her digestive tract can end up in her blood. She can also suffer from liver problems due to fat making its way into her bloodstream.

Instead of harping on her condition, Gebert is simply looking to raise awareness for this incredibly rare disease. She's begun selling wristbands for her charity “Sara’s Army.” Above all else, she is only looking to be “treated like a normal person."

"Other people find it uncomfortable to be around me when I can't eat. I don't find it weird anymore. It's become part of my life," she said.