Bouncing Back Into Life
Anyone who has an ostomy or is close to someone with one knows the guts it takes to bounce back into day-to-day life after surgery. The United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) celebrates this fortitude on Ostomy Awareness Day — October 1, 2016, with the theme of “Resilience”.
“We want to celebrate people who have found their resilience and support those on their journey as they discover it” explains Jay Pacitti, Executive Director of UOAA.
UOAA is taking to social media to celebrate the day with a photo campaign. Everyone is encouraged to take a photo holding a sign that reads “#IAmResilient” and post this hashtag to their social media accounts tagging UOAA. There will also be a live Twitter chat. More information can be found on UOAA’s website — ostomy.org.
Individuals are also asked to communicate with their local media to spread awareness of the campaign and contact local or state officials to recognize the day with a proclamation.
Hollister Secure Start services is a proud sponsor of the Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K, the crown jewel of Ostomy Awareness Day. Initially launched in 2014 by two dedicated WOC nurses in Durham, North Carolina as the WannaWearOne 5K, this event drew nearly 300 runners in 2015 in honor of World Ostomy Day.
The ultimate goal of the races is to educate, support and raise community awareness about people living with an ostomy. These family-friendly events have now grown from coast to coast and overseas. Interested in running the race but unable to physically attend the events? You can still sign up and run or walk your own virtual 5K race. Runners/walkers pay a registration fee and receive a T-shirt. Sponsorship support will offset event costs and all remaining proceeds benefit the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). Here’s a rundown of the Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K events planned for the month of October:
October 1: Durham, North Carolina
October 1: Virtual 5K
October 8: Boise, Idaho
October 8: Birmingham, Alabama
October 13: London, England
October 15: Portland, Oregon
To sign up or for more information go to ostomy5K.org.
UOAA is a national organization devoted to supporting and advocating for people who have had or who may have ostomy or continent diversion surgery.
A Gutsy Idea
Meet Lois Fink, creator of the IBD & Ostomy Awareness Ribbon
Lois Fink struggled with Crohn’s disease for 19 years, and it was only after ostomy surgery that she realized she no longer felt the shame and embarrassment she had been wearing like a heavy lead cloak. She knew that she could start telling her story. Lois is now an inspirational speaker.
When the pink breast cancer ribbon became popular, Lois wondered why there wasn’t a ribbon for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ostomy awareness. She turned to her friend Barb Wodzin and said, “We have nothing to lose and I have a gut feeling this idea could take off.”
Lois and Barb both agreed the ribbon had to be brown and collected various samples. Their first attempt at constructing a ribbon proved unsuccessful and they glued their fingers together! Then one day Barb called Lois and said, “I’m at the store and I see these tiny red jewels!” Of course this was the finishing touch they had been looking for — a symbol for the stoma.
They started a Facebook page and there was demand for the ribbon from around the globe with requests from Canada, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Malta and the United States. Later the ribbon became sponsored by Get Your Guts in Gear. It has become synonymous with Ostomy Awareness Day and Lois can’t be more surprised or happier.
Purchase your own IBD & Ostomy Awareness Ribbon at igotguts.org/ibdribbon.