PRESIDENTS MESSAGE JULY/AUGUST 2020 Howdy everyone! Hope everyone is doing well, and I have missed everyone so much. I am very excited to report that we had our virtual (ZOOM) meeting on June 23rd and had eleven attendees and our speaker. After a few glitches getting everyone into the meeting, it went really well but there are definitely things to learn along the way. Several people have volunteered to do some practice sessions so that we can get “great” at this. The members that attended gave lots of positive feedback, and thank you to all for your suggestions and your support. We would not have been able to have a virtual meeting without all of your patience and support. Our speaker was Angela Waliszewski, Registered Dietician, and she was wonderful. Even though she has presented to us before, she still had more useful information this time around. So, to everyone, thank you all for participating. We did the meeting in a slightly different way as we were all very laid back in our own homes, and I think some members were attending the meeting from their beds. Normally we take a break from our monthly meetings during July and August. In keeping with the “new norm” and with requests from several members, we are going to have virtual meetings on July 28th and August 25th and I will try to find speakers for both meetings. Once again, if you wish to attend these meetings, please send me your name and email, and I will send out reminders throughout July and send instructions on how to join a meeting as we get closer. It was so great to not only talk to our members, but seeing everyone was awesome. During this crazy time when so many people are isolated, seeing and talking to our group really lifted my spirits, and hopefully the rest of you felt the same way. Recently we have received several donations of supplies if you are in need of something let me know and I will happily get them to you. If anyone has some Hollister convex wafers that they don’t need, please let me know. (Has red stripe down side of box). If we don’t dispense of the supplies that we have, Sam has generously offered to take them to a place near him that will give them away for free. Reminder: If you have any questions or concerns our help line is checked everyday. We try to return calls within 24-48 hours. Suggestions for speakers welcome. All the best, Eileen Goldberg RN President ejgoldberg@comcast.net
303-489-0636 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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