It’s official, in 2023 toilets are out, stoma bags are in!

1 in 500 people in the UK have undergone stoma surgery.

I am 27 years old and in summer 2022 after a few years of ill health I was admitted to hospital and this ended up being a 6 week stay and resulted in me having a stoma formed following a bowel perforation secondary to another condition. I am fortunate that my stoma is likely reversible, however so many people live with these for their entire lives. Honestly as a young person who now has multiple lifelong scars I am devastated that my health resulted in this, however, it saved my life. 6 weeks in hospital, 2 surgeries later, having to be artificially fed, spending time on multiple wards and ICU, dropping from a healthy 9st5lb to 6st and not even being able to walk for myself, I couldn’t be more grateful for the stoma surgery saving my life. I am also extremely fortunate that I have the most incredible partner, family, friends and people around me who kept me positive and going throughout the whole ordeal! I am now better than I have been for 3 years and learning to live with my ‘new normal’. So I figured why not challenge myself to do something to keep me active and moving! That’s why I will be running the Lincoln 10k in support of Colostomy UK.

Colostomy UK is a national charity that offers support and advice to people with stomas and to their families, carers and friends. Colostomy UK also campaigns and acts as advocates for ostomates on the many issues they face going about their daily lives. We want hidden conditions to be understood and accepted by all. Our vision is of communities in which everyone is empowered to reach their potential.