"Stoma Care - made dark days brighter"

I have had to avail of the NHS heavily for the past 16 years and do not want to know where I would be without them. Recently, following surgery to remove my bowel and be fitted with a permanent stoma bag because of the effects of Crohn's disease, I was told that there had been a cancerous tumour in my bowel that was hidden and I would need chemotherapy. 

My mood took a turn for the worst to say the least. I was introduced to my stoma nurse, who came to my home for the first while, and she lifted me straight away with her warmth, understanding and knowledge of what I would need, making everything seem that bit easier.  As the months passed I was invited to clinics and began to see it as a afternoon out for a bit of craic (believe me, in the midst of a pandemic ANYTHING can be viewed as entertainment) where I met two more of my wonderful stoma nurses who have helped me more than they can imagine.  

I remember one day when I was lucky to have two of them caring for me.  I was in a bad place and struggling with coming out the otherside of chemo; feeling overweight,  lethargic and a bit useless.  Those women listened to me cry, made me laugh and showed me empathy and kindness beyond anything I had experienced before. Their reach is further than the bag stuck to your abdomen,  they care about your head and your heart too.  They made many dark days lighter and I know I'm not the only one they have made feel this way.