Cornwall ON – Over one thousand ostomy surgeries per year are performed in the Ottawa area , some temporary and others permanent. People from all walks of life, politicians, royalty, sports figures, professionals, teenagers, children and babies have had their lives saved by this surgery. And yet the word ostomy is often still a word that can bring a hush in a conversation.
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Why? It is simply because we think of the surgery in 19th century terms. Ostomy remains for many the forbidden “O’”word. Ostomy surgery is not a loss, it is simply a change, a life-saving change which after healing will allow the patient to resume a healthy, active, disease free life. Yes ostomates can take part in sports, have healthy love lives, father and bear children, travel, write books, heal the sick, become missionaries i.e. whatever their hearts desire.
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IT DOES NOT CHANGE WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE!
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True there is a time of healing both physically and mentally. After all a part of the body is now missing and replaced by either a surgically created internal or an external pouch to catch body wastes. During the adjustment period a group of fine people who have had these surgeries and are now living happy, healthy lives do their best to help the newcomers with information, support, friendship and example. These are ostomy support groups and they exist all over the world.
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Your Ottawa chapter, United Ostomy Support Group, Ottawa, is a volunteer-based, charitable organization dedicated to assisting and encouraging anyone who has or will have intestinal or urinary tract diversions by providing peer support, education services and support to the family unit. We have qualified ostomate visitors and a hotline for problems or support, monthly meetings and social gatherings. The group is permanently dedicated to helping area ostomates and their families. We promote these services to the medical profession and are joined with them in helping ostomates.
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United Ostomy Support Group, Ottawa Inc. is hosting an Expo and Information Day with their partners Convatec and Hollister. Attending will be local health care suppliers, manufacturers, ostomy clothing suppliers and guest speakers such as (names of doctors who are speaking); Doug Graham, past president of North and Central America and Caribbean Ostomy Association and United Ostomy Association, Canada; Enterosomal Therapy Nurses (names) and ostomates who are in the public eye.
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All are welcome and especially those who are to have or have had ostomy surgery. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
