PRESIDENTS MESSAGE JULY/AUGUST 2019
HAPPY SUMMER! FINALLY!
WHAT AN AMAZING GROUP WE HAVE! AT EVERY MEETING WE ARE WELCOMING NEW OSTOMATES, AND MEANWHILE OUR EXPERIENCED OSTOMATES CONTINUE TO COME TO THE MEETINGS, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO BE THERE FOR SUPPORT TO OUR NEW BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IT IS SO REWARDING TO WATCH A NEW OSTOMATE COME TO THEIR FIRST MEETING UNSURE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR NEW SITUATION AND CONFUSED ABOUT THE FUTURE. IT TAKES SO MUCH COURAGE TO COME TO THAT FIRST MEETING. THE REWARDING PART IS TO WATCH THESE NEW OSTOMATES CHANGE FROM MONTH TO MONTH IN BECOMING MORE COMFORTABLE AND TO SEE THEM REACHING OUT TO ANOTHER NEW OSTOMATE AND ENCOURAGE THEM AS TO HOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND RELATE WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH. EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT JOURNEY AND ACCEPTS THEIR “NEW NORM” AT THEIR OWN RATE. THE OSTOMATES CARE PROVIDERS HAVE NEEDS OF THEIR OWN THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT. I JUST WANT TO SHARE HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR SUPPORT GROUP. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HELPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE WILL NOT BE MEETING IN JULY AND AUGUST BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL OUR “HELP LINE “ AT 303-377-4878. PLEASE SPEAK SLOWLY AND LEAVE A MESSAGE AND RETURN PHONE NUMBER. WE CHECK IT DAILY AND WILL TRY TO GET BACK TO YOU WITHIN 24-48 HOURS.
OUR MEETINGS WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE QUITE AN EXCITING SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS:
SEPTEMBER: DR SANTOSH NANDI, COLO RECTAL SURGEON
OCTOBER: ANGELA WALISZEWSKI REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND LORI CHESTER FROM HOLLISTER
NOVEMBER: B BRAUN REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS RIGSBY
DECEMBER: OFF
JANUARY: WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING A UROSTOMY SURGEON. WE HAVE A DOCTOR, JUST NEED TO WORK OUT THE PARTICULARS.
PLEASE COME TO OUR YEARLY PICNIC AND ENJOY GOOD FOOD, GREAT PEOPLE AND JUST A PLAIN FUN TIME. PICNIC
THE FOOD AND DRINK IS PROVIDED BY THE BOARD, PAID THROUGH DONATIONS FROM
MANY OF OUR AMAZING REPRESENTATIVES. (WE WILL LIST THEM AT THE PICNIC)
DATE: JULY 28TH 2PM-5PM
WHERE: CLEMENT PARK SHELTER L
7306 W BOWLES AVE, LITTLETON
RSVP: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL THERE.
HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A WONDERFUL SUMMER. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN SEPTEMBER AND AT THE PICNIC.
HUGS TO ALL,
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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