Hi, I’m Kieran, I’m 23 (almost 24), and I want to show that living with a stoma doesn’t stop you living your life.

If you know me, you’ll know I’ve dealt with severe stomach problems my whole life. It meant missing school and a lot of normal experiences growing up.

Over the past two years, things got worse. I was in and out of hospital and diagnosed with Megacolon, which in my case led to reoccurring volvulus, severe pain and extreme abdominal distension. After extensive tests, surgery was the only option.

In October last year I underwent Ileostomy surgery, which already has completely changed my life for the better. Unfortunately, in January I had a second surgery to revise my stoma, but I’m back up on my feet now!

To prove that a stoma doesn’t limit your life I’m taking on the Loch Ness Etape on the 26th of April to raise money for Guts UK. They do incredible work supporting people with digestive conditions, funding vital research and improving lives.

Thank you for supporting me on this journey!