PRESIDENTS MESSAGE SEPT/OCT 2018
The Ostomy Association of Metro Denver, Inc may take a break from summer support group meetings, but there is NEVER a dull moment.
Even though we were not having official support group meetings, we continued to be sought out, from all over. The “help line” was quite busy, and one of the most exciting things was the number of people who reached out to the “help line”, and when they found out we didn’t have a meeting, they instead came to the summer picnic. I admire you all for coming and getting support, as sometimes it is that first meeting that can be the hardest one to come to. With the help from contributions from: Karlene Martin (Shield-CWCMS/Senior Territory Representative), Melissa Hood (Coloplast-Territory Manager-Ostomy Care-CO/WY), Dawn Crain (Byram-Account Manager-Southern Colorado), The Chronic Care Specialist OPM Markets of B. Braun Medical Inc, and The Regional Representative of Convatec, were able to have a successful summer picnic at Clement Park. We had about 40 in attendance, the food was great, the weather was perfect and the company was the best. Thank you to Tara Steckler for getting the shelter for us and to the Board for your tireless help and in making it such a success.
We have had quite a rewarding time helping several new support groups get started. Boulder Community Hospital is in full swing. It is so good to see them be able to make it easier for their population have a place to go. One of our long-time members, Shirley Lambert (we will always take claim to our beloved Shirley as being ours) is a member of the Longmont group and also makes appearances at the Boulder group. For any questions, please don’t hesitate to call her at: 303-530-2506. For more information, contact Susan Bogatin at bocoostomygroup.com. The next meeting is Sept. 6th at 1:00 PM, at Longmont United Hospital. Guest presenter is Physical Therapist, Jennifer Davis, Integral Physical Therapy. Patty Smith and I had to the opportunity to meet with the newly forming “East Denver Metro Ostomy Support Group” being supported by the University of Colorado Hospital (UC Health). I am pleased and excited to announce that their hard work has paid off as the first meeting will be Sept. 19th from 5pm to 6:30pm. It will be held at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, 12348 E. Montview Blvd. Aurora Co 80045 3rd floor Benson Board Room #3008. For more information the web site information is: ostomysupoort@uchealth.org. Looking forward to see you there. In addition to these new support groups, don’t forget that there is also a support group at Lutheran Medical Center which meets the first Thursday, 9:30am-11am. It is run by our own CWOCN Armi Earlam. For any questions, please call 303-425-2510. Many of our members go to both our meeting and Armi’s meetings and it is fun to hear more speakers and be part of more communities. Also, many thanks to our own Roger Pomainville, who was a featured speaker at several of these group meetings.
The coincidence of World Ostomy Day (see the article in this issue) being next month couldn’t be better timing for us. Dr. Liza Abuogi MD, University of Colorado, Denver Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics Senior Investigator Center for Global Health, happened to find us on the web. She has a patient in Kenya, George, who received an ileostomy 4 weeks ago without any education or products. He was in desperate need as conditions in his village are such that he has to boil all is own water and there are no supplies available. We were able with the help of Shield to get together a large care package which should be arriving today. It has been one of the most incredible experiences to be able to skype with George to teach him how to change and take care of himself with his ostomy. It was so much fun trying to explain to George what a marshmallow was, since they don’t have any in Kenya. Roger and Pat have been able to skype with George and I and he is forever grateful. He is doing amazing and despite all of his health issues, he has an incredible outlook on life. I will elaborate on his story in the next newsletter. It just goes to demonstrate how being active allows us to help people from all over the world.
Thank you all for being an amazing group. The support that we give each other is priceless and in many cases life saving.
Thank you for all of your support as we go through our journeys together.
With love and hugs, Eileen
Eileen Goldberg, 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
|
|
Home Page Welcome
Subpages (1):
Eileen's Story