June 19 th , 2016 will be the anniversary of the operation to make my stoma (Homer). What a four years it has been. In 2012, my life-changing ‘op’, my recovery and a change in career. Also in all of this, my decision to share the story of my illness and subsequent recovery with Pelican Healthcare triggered so many events in the years that followed.
In 2014 and 2015, I managed to secure a lot of publicity for my illness, ulcerative colitis, and to show people that it is possible to lead a full and active life after major surgery. My story was featured in the local paper and then I was interviewed by Jason Mohammed for his show on Radio Wales. Various organisations have published my story on-line and I have posted blogs that have been read as far afield as USA, Canada and Australia. I have taken part in a photo-shoot for a range of swimwear for ostomates (I have never doubted my potential as a model!), yet more photographs were taken with the Ostomy Bear (I am “September” in the Stomawise Ostomy Awareness 2016 calendar) and finally I was selected to be the first “ostobuddy” for Stomawise.
I have been wholeheartedly supported by my employers, First Cymru; they organised a feature in the company magazine highlighting my condition and how I cope on a daily basis. On top of all that, I quickly realised that social media was the way to get publicity and raise awareness for Crohns and Colitis – I now have 1400 followers on Twitter as well as a significant following on Facebook and Instagram. I have continued to blog, particularly about different products like bag systems. In addition to the social media thing, I have taken part in some on-line research about living with a stoma- this introduced me to the world of Skype. This is how I met Shahena who made the whole process easy and relaxed. So what has been the impact of it all you might ask?
My guest blog “Life after Illness” on the World Health Innovation Summit website has been read by thousands of people. I have communicated with many people facing the Ostomy operation and hopefully I have been able to give some insight, support and encouragement. I have met so many people on-line who suffer with Crohns or colitis; people like myself who live with stomas, all giving mutual support on a daily basis. Everyone has their own special story to tell and by sharing these stories awareness has been raised as well as funding, that will hopefully mean that one day there will be a cure. Four years on as an ostomate, I can honestly say my life has changed. I promised myself that I would do anything I could to offer help and support to others in my position and to further the cause to find a cure. For my small part in all of this, I say it is a job well done and I would do it all again tomorrow to be this fit, healthy and happy.
Our next event is in London 24th & 25th June – join us.
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