"Supportive Stoma Nurses"

I had emergency surgery when my bowel perforated last December secondary to chemo. It was a distressing time and it took a long time to have the perforation diagnosed in the hospital for many reasons which left me in the worst pain I have every experienced. When the surgeon spoke to me before the surgery he advised there was a small chance i would end up with a stoma bag. On waking in ICU it was the first thing I asked and I cried when the nurses confirmed I did have a stoma. 

I first met the stoma nurses when they appeared at the bottom of my bed in ICU and very gently explained that they were here to help me through this. They left me some supplies and assured me that by the time I left hospital I would be able to deal with it myself.

They were right. The stoma nurses supported me every step of they way during a horrible unplanned admission at Christmas time with a toddler at home. I had many leaks in hospital and the ward staff and stoma team helped clean me up numerous times and found a solution to the leaks eventually. I went home able to mostly care for it myself. 

The stoma nurses are the only health care providers who all through my cancer treatment and beyond I know will do everything they can to help. I  leave a message for them any time I need them and they without fail return the call and go above and beyond to come up with solutions. From face to face appointments to video calls telephone calls and to allowing me to collect new supplies to trial. 

I would not have gotten through this experience without them and would like their efforts to be noticed and commended.