Last July I thought I was going in for a relatively minor operation to remove an ovarian cyst. Unfortunately , on inspection with cameras it became obvious to doctors it was a lot larger than first thought (over 23cm in diameter, filled with over a litre of fluid and weighing approximately half a stone). The operation had to become open surgery as a result, with many specialists becoming increasingly involved. Over six and half hours later I was out of surgery having not only the cyst drained and removed but, a fallopian tube removed as well as my appendix due to the fact the cyst had been suffocating both of them whilst it had also happily attaching itself to my abdominal wall, bowel and bladder.

Having come round from my operation, I was made aware of the situation immediately but because I was so thankful that such a large cyst had been removed from my body I did not pay much attention to the doctor's concerns about the fact the cyst had been attached all over my abdominal wall, bladder and bowel. He explained that due to the cyst being so complexly attach to my internal organs he had had to try and detach the cyst very carefully but even though he had done this successfully with my abdominal wall and bladder, my bowel had been perforated several times to remove the cyst from my intestines. It had been stitched up but I will be under close observation for the next 48 hours because of the risk of peritonitis. 

Unfortunately, within 12 hours I began to deteriorate massively. I seem to remember being very lucid and then becoming delirious in waves. One moment that sticks out in my mind was at 4am being moved to a private room because a nice lady across from me pressed her buzzer expressing her concern when I just did not stop coughing. Not a bundle of laughs when you've just had major abdominal surgery! The nurses took my temperature and I heard one of them say it's over 40. At that point I was given a chest x-ray and I can remember the doctor saying, this better be a chest infection for your sake. It was a chest infection but my temperature was not dropping. The next few hours I don't remember except an agony I felt when being shifted on a ct scanner to check my abdomen. Having said that, I do remember texting my parents in the morning saying the doctors say I had a bad night you can visit early. Then just blank again. Next thing I remember is looking up and seeing my consultant...and my parents. He explained the ct showed that my bowel was leaking, I've got peritonitis and have to go in for emergency surgery.

The brief words used: perforated bowel, mortality rate from peritonitis high, same incision, usually counselling but no time, best result, loop ileostomy hopefully reversed and bag. 

I just told my consultant in the best voice possible when he mentioned counselling 'you said emergency, the quicker this is done the better'.

I guess I should have freaked out?

Fortunately a friend from my PGCE had had a bag, and we chatted about it briefly once years ago, as they wheeled me off to theatre I thought, well it's the best option most likely reversible and a lot better than the alternative. If she can cope with it, why not me?

When I came round my first question was: Have I got a bag?

Response: Yes.

How did I feel: Alive.

I was in hospital for two weeks, my temperature spiked a lot. They had had to remove some of my colon in my second operation because it had died. But most importantly I was now gradually improved.

When I was eventually discharged I'd lost over a stone and a half. It was shocking, I could barely walk, the muscle wastage even from just that short time in hospital was obvious. I then spent the rest of the summer mainly lying down or doing short walks with nurses visiting every day due to large open wounds which could not be stitched. The friends and family that were there for me then were invaluable.

I started to get my strength back, some colour to my face and even though I was still in a lot of pain with a few visits to hospital I felt oddly happy. I was alive and I appreciated that more than anything. It was all thanks to a stoma. A little bit of colon outside my body stopping me from dying all those months ago.

How could I resent having a bag when without it I would have died. I won't deny getting used to the bag has been interesting. Accidents have happened, but its like everything you learn pretty quickly how to deal with the hand you are dealt if you don't have any option. I will be honest though and say they aren't that nice to look. That's why my first priority whilst laid up in bed was to order some covers online. I have one for swimming I got it personalised with 'Just keep swimming' on it, in the right colours to match my bikini. But the cover I usually wear is one that I got 'Shit happens' printed on because you need to laugh adversity right in the face.

I am doing this walk because I want to say thank you. I have been training since December and I still experience some pain but hope by the beginning of April I will be ready and will complete it, I know it will be very difficult but that is the point.

I am one of the lucky ones my ileostomy will hopefully be reversed. Many people aren't as lucky, they have one permanently due to Crohn's, Cancer or other health problems.

I had no idea that such support was in place for people in a sudden predicament, like me. From Nurses who go above and beyond to help make living with an ileostomy as easy as possible, to people that make specialist lingerie covers to make women still feel attractive.

Bad things happen to so many people in this world, but fortunately there are lots of people there when shit happens. This is for them.

Thank you to all my friends and family who have supported me through this difficult time. You will never truly know how grateful I am to you all. To all the people who donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope I succeed for all of you.