I am taking part in Colostomy UK's annual Step Up for Stomas, Active April fundraiser!

It is just over 2 years since I had the life saving surgery that brought Xavier (my stoma) into my life. And was it not for Xavier I am certain that I would not have a life, I don’t think I would be here. Because of Xavier I am here and I feel better than I did for years before his sudden arrival.

In a nutshell in 2017 I experienced a volvulus, this is when a section of your bowel twists. Surgeons managed to correct that but for seven years I continued to experience issues with my gut. The situation reached a critical situation in January 2024 and in March 24 I required emergency surgery as basically a section of my bowel had stopped working and as the surgeon put it I basically had cesspit in my stomach 🙈. So that section had to go and Xavier was born.

And while it’s not all moonlight and roses, my quality of life since Xavier is night and day. He doesn’t always behave 🙈and it’s not the ‘norm’ but it’s better than the alternative and I am grateful for his arrival in my life.

As the procedure was an emergency procedure, I was basically told one day you need surgery, you are going to have a bag and the next day it all happened. It was quite a whirl wind. In those early days and since I have often relied on the resources that Colostomy UK provide for people living with stomas and those caring for people with stomas.

And this is why I am taking part in Step Up for Stomas, Active April.

Every day in the UK 55 people undergo stoma surgery, so in the run up to my 55th birthday in May, every day in April I am aiming to run 5.5km to raise money for Colostomy UK and support the work they do. This will be no easy task I feel as donning the running shoes has been a challenge of late, any encouragement you could provide by way of a donation would be very much appreciated. Thank you.