In honor of World Ostomy Day (October 6th, 2018), I aim to shed light on what it is like to be a young woman who is thriving with an ostomy. For background purposes, an ostomy is a surgical procedure that changes the way in which urine or stool exits the body due to urinary or digestive diseases. It is something that many of us ostomates struggle to discuss or reveal given the private nature of having bathroom issues.
That said, I always get super excited when friends and family muster up the courage to ask about my ostomy. It makes me feel so connected to them and like I’m being recognized for all of me and not just the healthy-looking parts of me. I feel their concern, their love and most of all, their interest in how I live my life, chronic illness and disabilities abound.
See, the thing is, living with an ostomy is often the proverbial elephant in the room. Family and friends might know that I have one but they hesitate to ask or discuss for a variety of reasons, one of which I’m sure is out of respect for my privacy. But the reality is that I’m very open about it after spending years in silence brooding over what people might say or think. Everyone has a right to decide for themselves if they want to talk about it or not but for me, talking about it makes me feel like me, like I’m valued for who I am and the countless battles I’ve faced in the operating room.
And while every society and every culture has its taboos, I don’t believe that living with an ostomy should be a stigma. Yes, talking about poop isn’t becoming whatsoever but it is a core part of our human existence just like eating, drinking and sleeping are. And just because I poop differently doesn’t mean I’m any different from anyone else. I still have dreams. I still have aspirations. I still love and care for others and I still enjoy similar activities to when I didn’t have an ostomy.
And just as importantly, I’m not alone in this journey. According to the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA), nearly one million people in the U.S. alone have an ostomy of some kind. And these folks aren’t all elderly or suffering from some type of cancer. There are many young folk with other conditions, myself included. And many of us live as normal as lives as possible. Below are some photos of things I have done over the years as an ostomate:
**Shout-out to Ostomy Secrets for the funky bathing suit wrap!
So, own your Crohn’s, own your ostomy, own every wound that allows the light in to heal your soul.
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