I still remember the day I was told that I might need major surgery and that there was a high chance that the procedure could lead to a permanent stoma. Fear overwhelmed me, and my mind filled with ‘what ifs?’. I pictured a future defined by limitations and endless challenges, convinced that my old life was coming to an end.
As I began this journey, I discovered something unexpected. The surgery became an opportunity to take back control. After years of battling flare-ups and feeling trapped by illness, I learned I was capable of much more than I had ever imagined. Facing the surgery made me stronger and less fearful of other challenges.
The early days after surgery were tough. I found physical recovery a challenge and was shocked by how different my body felt. I questioned who I was and worried that I’d lost the spontaneity and joy I once knew. But slowly, everything began to change.
I found comfort in a community of fellow ostomates, people who had faced similar fears and emerged braver. Listening to their stories and sharing my own helped me see that a stoma wasn’t a mark of defeat. Instead, it became a symbol of survival. I began to view my stoma as a badge of strength, a reminder that I could overcome my fears and reclaim my life.
I also changed the way I talked about my experience. I replaced words like ‘loss’ and ‘disability’ with ‘opportunity’ and ‘control’. As I embraced life, I became braver. I took chances to explore new things, to live more intensely. Having a stoma gave me the courage to lead a more active and adventurous life, proving that sometimes the hardest challenges can open the door to a richer, more fulfilling journey. I returned to my old hobbies and developed new ones, which I never thought I would do.
Today, I know that stoma surgery isn’t an end, it’s only the start of a new chapter. My journey taught me that taking back control is about reclaiming your story and celebrating every victory along the way. If you’re facing similar challenges, remember that your path can lead to renewal and empowerment. Embrace your story, and let it show you that even in the face of fear, there is strength, adventure and hope.