JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL DID NOT SEE HIS SHADOW, PREDICTING AN EARLY SPRING WHICH IS TO START MARCH 20th. ARE YOU LISTENING, COLORADO???
I hope this finds everyone well. I can’t believe that spring is just around the corner. Where does the time go?
Unfortunately, we had to cancel the January meeting in which Cindy Charlton was scheduled to speak, but luckily, we have been able to reschedule her for April 23rd. Hopefully the Colorado snow will cooperate!
At the FEBRUARY support group meeting we tried a different format. Wendi Shattil, John Vasu and I presented our journeys as we went from new ostomates to where we are today and how we handled our “new norms”. Even though we had a small attendance, it was a very successful meeting. We had a few new ostomates (only a few months into their “new norm”) and they were able to ask questions of the veteran ostomates.
By telling our stories first, the new ostomates have reported that they didn’t feel so alone. One person stated that she feels like her friends are getting sick of listening to her talk about her fears and questions. She stated that this was the first time she could actually open up and not feel like she was bothering anyone. She said she didn’t feel like a “freak” and actually felt like she belonged. There was much participation from the other “newbies”. In critiquing this presentation afterwards, we feel that it was quite successful. We agreed that we would like to try this again maybe in 6 months.
Ready to party? The summer picnic will be at Clement Park on July 28th from 2pm-6pm. We have a covered shelter and are near parking, a bathroom and playground.
The board will provide the food and drink. If you want to have alcohol (BYO) it must be in a can or plastic container, as no glass bottles are allowed.
The funds for the picnic have always been donated to us by many of the product representatives. They are once again being generous in their contributions and we are most appreciative. More information on the picnic to follow.
The upcoming speakers are as follows: March 26th Dianna Leutenegger (Convatec), April 23rd Cynthia Charlton (inspirational speaker).
I am trying to get a surgeon to come and speak. Dr. Longcope said he would like to come and speak at a meeting, but we will have to change the meeting to a Wednesday or Thursday —thoughts??
If you are interested in going to the UOAA National Conference Aug. 6-10th in Philadelphia please look at the UOAA web site as they are taking reservations now. The board will pay for the registration for 2 members to go.
We have helped Boulder and CU set up their ostomy support groups and they are up and running.
March 13th I will be going to Grand Junction to attend the new Grand Junction support group at their first meeting as we have been working with them also. They are so excited and they already have 10 members signed up to . It is being run by the WOCN’s of St Mary’s Hospital, who are donating their time.
Hope to see you all in March. Try to stay warm, dry and safe during our upcoming storms.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Goldberg RN President
Why come to a meeting? Quotes from members- “From the first meeting I went to before my surgery I have been so blessed to meet such open, honest and caring people. People who I can share my worries, concerns & triumphs of my ostomy. I can't imagine going through this journey without all of them. One can't possibly go to a meeting and feel like you don't fit in. Not only does it feel good to go and get advice, but I think it feels even better to go and give to someone just starting out on the journey.” Tracey Sloan (member) "One of the most important things that helped me was the magazine for ostomates called The Phoenix, (I was sent home from the hospital with an issue, but too afraid to even open the folder that would tell me of ‘all’ the things that, at that time, were disgusting to me). I didn’t open that folder for over a month after my surgery. When I did open it and begin to read ‘everything’ that was in it, I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t believe all this information was written down, and much of it was exactly what I was feeling! I read that issue of The Phoenix from cover to cover, and then went online to the UOAA. So much information was available to me! I called the local support group, and talked to Steve Johnson, (the President) who took at least 45 minutes of his precious time to talk and share with me. He, too, had a colostomy. Hearing him talk openly of something I was so ashamed of was very comforting. He encouraged me to attend a meeting, and meet others who have also been there and who are currently there. The support group was invaluable to me! Debbie Conway (member) See her entire article Several years ago, during a visit with my physician, he asked me, “What kind of exercise are you getting?” I said, “I’m playing on a softball team for guys 45 and over.” To which he replied, “Softball! That’s not exercise….that’s’ a social event!” I couldn’t really argue with him and we both chuckled about it. Not long after this humorous exchange with my doctor, I came down with a very nasty case of Ulcerative Colitis. Jim Folsom article (member) See his entire article
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