Stoma Stories

My battle with endometriosis and journey to a colostomy

Andressa Alvarez describes her seven stage journey to a colostomy and how she feels empowered in her femininity

Pouches, a newfound positivity and the Pride of Britain award

Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford describes her journey with ulcerative colitis, a J-pouch and three stomas

My journey with Crohn’s disease, as a nurse and a patient

Beth Fenwick recalls how 20 years of living with inflammatory bowel disease led to stoma surgery and a career in specialist nursing

How stoma surgery freed me from my terrible teens with Crohn’s disease

Surakhsha Soond recalls her struggles to live with Crohn’s disease as a young teenager and her eventual decision to undergo radical stoma-forming surgery.

How I reconquered life as a police officer, mother and sometime dancer

Juliana Simões recalls how stoma surgery helped her overcome Crohn’s disease and return to an active, happy life with her profession, friends and family.

Back with a vengeance: taking control after stoma surgery

Steve Cartmail shares his story of toughing it out through ulcerative colitis, two parastomal hernias and lockdown weight gain

Motherhood, fitness, my ileostomy and me

Jessica Ormondroyd recalls how she regained her fitness and became a health and fitness coach after two eventful pregnancies, chronic illness and stoma surgery

A little inspiration: Jessica’s stoma journey

Kimberly Lucock recounts how her daughter Jessica has stayed smiling through chronic bowel problems and getting a stoma

Something to cheer about: positively Stella

Sarah Smith tells how her wife supported her through severe ulcerative colitis and how she was liberated by her ileostomy

My Precious: embracing the beauty of my fistula

Eilidh Mackay shares her unique life story of how she has survived two cancers and gained a fistula bag in the process, making her feel more beautiful than ever

Me again, free again

Julie Brown describes how Crohn’s disease and cancer led her to find new love, new life and softball

Teen trouble: how I got my stoma at 16

Oliver Kaye tells how stoma surgery freed him from ulcerative colitis and inspired him to raise awareness and funds for invisible bowel disease