Having stoma surgery is life-changing, and for many, including myself, life-saving.
I’ll briefly set the scene and give you the background info. My stoma, ‘Stacey’, was formed in 2011, when I was 19 years old. I needed her due to severe Crohn’s disease (a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)) and due to a large, benign tumour on my colon, the size of a watermelon. Surgeons didn’t find this until they operated. If surgeons had left things even a few hours, I was told I wouldn’t be here, so she literally saved my life.
Did you know that October 4th marked World Ostomy Day? But what is it, and why is it so important?
Please note that this is with regards to my experiences living with an ileostomy and using a one-piece, drainable ostomy bag. Let’s get started.
World Ostomy Day is…
World Ostomy Day is not just a day. It’s a movement. It’s a powerful reminder that for people like myself, and many others, life doesn’t end when you have an ostomy. For a lot of us, it is just the beginning. It’s a day that can have mixed emotions, and that’s okay.
Caption: This was in 2021, and even looking back just a few years ago makes me realise how far I have come since my surgery in 2011.
Raising awareness
World Ostomy Day is a chance to raise vital awareness. In some countries and cultures, having an ostomy is still seen as a taboo subject, and something that some people are, wrongly, made to feel ashamed of.
This day helps to educate others, which can help to reduce stigma. It’s also a perfect chance to break down myths, normalise medical devices such as ostomy bags and also shift the narrative. Stories are shared and hope is spread. Awareness can lead to empathy and the more people empathise, the more likely vital change is to happen, when it comes to a more positive future for ostomy life.
Being an advocate
World Ostomy Day is a brilliant day to advocate for better. To take a stand for what you believe in and fight for ostomy rights, whether that’s in the public, where you work, in healthcare or more. It’s a chance to say “we deserve better and we deserve it now.”
Ostomy care and supplies should be a right, not a luxury, but sadly for many, they can’t even access basic supplies for daily ostomy life. World Ostomy Day provides a platform to bring this to the forefront.
Empowering others
World Ostomy Day is a reminder that you’re not alone. That it’s okay to be proud of your ostomy and to stand forward and say “this is who I am. Scars, stoma and all.”
I share my journey to show others that with an ostomy you can pretty much do all the things you’ve ever dreamed of. In fact, for some people like myself, you are here because of your ostomy. You can still live, love, explore, make memories, navigate the bad times, have trips with family and friends, even if that looks a little different to what you expected.
Our bodies might change…
But our worth doesn’t. It’s not a weakness because our bodies have changed. Our bodies are a map of survival, with our scars pinpointing moments we made it through when at one point, we weren’t sure if we would.
Every stoma is a sign of still being. Even if our bodies don’t look like we imagined, it’s a day to shift the focus from what’s missing, to what’s possible because of your ostomy. Sexy isn’t limited by scars, in fact, it’s encouraged. Confidence comes from embracing your body, not hiding it.
It’s a celebration of life
However you got your ostomy, World Ostomy Day helps to highlight that having an ostomy is something to be celebrated, because you are here. Yes, we have bad days, but having an ostomy means we are here to navigate the bad days. I always say that life with an ostomy isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s a walk in the park I can now do, because of my ostomy (without having to know where the nearest loo is!) You are still whole, you are still worthy and you are still loved.
Respond’s blogs
Respond have some inspiring and helpful blogs on their website, including:
- Building self-esteem by Poppy
- Coping with tough days whilst living with a stoma by Mohammed
- Can you work with a stoma bag? By Keith
For so many, including myself, having an ostomy wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning. This bag didn’t stop you. It saved you. And that can be celebrated any day, not just World Ostomy Day.
You can message me and follow me on my stoma journey on Instagram: @ibdwarriorprincess
