 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE MAY/JUNE 2019 What an amazing support group we have! Just to review, the past year we have assisted the CU Med Center, Boulder, and Grand Junction set up their own support groups and will be helping Carbondale to set one up soon.
Each support group is doing really well, and their memberships are growing every meeting. The UOAA advised that we are one of the top groups in the country for helping establish new support groups in our home state, and they wish other groups would be as committed in helping their individual states create support groups so that they are available to more people.
Thank you to Maureen, Sam, Sue and Roger for giving our bi yearly-presentation to the CU nursing students about what its like to be an ostomate. Once again, it was well received and the students loved the presentation.
Thank you again for donating your time and effort to this worthwhile program.
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for July 28th for our yearly picnic at Clement Park. We provide all the food and drinks from donations from the various product companies and distribution companies. Details TBA.
What an incredible presentation Cindy Charlton gave at our April meeting which was quite different than her previous presentations. We had several new members at the meeting, and all who attended really enjoyed it. Thank you to Cindy for always being willing to speak to us. She is just the most inspirational person and her example is always something that no one will ever forget.
Our upcoming speakers include product representatives, Dietitian Angela Waliszewski, and Colorectal Surgeon Dr Nandi. We are waiting to hear from Urostomy Surgeon Dr Donato, and several others. Our schedule is quite full with some great presentations but if there is anything in particular you would like to have a speaker discuss please let me or another board member know.
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Patricia Cox, age 90. Patricia was a loyal member who attended almost every meeting with her son and daughter in law. She will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with her family. More sad news is the passing of Charlotte’s husband, Ernest Popovich, and our thoughts are with Charlotte and her family. We have collected donations and will be presenting them to a charity in her husband’s honor. FYI KAISER PATIENTS: I have learned that Kaiser is rebuilding their WOCN team so if you need a WOCN please call Kaiser’s main number and ask for a WOCN.
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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