Inspirational People

Throughout this journey from first diagnosis, to managing UC, during flare ups, to having surgery and during my recovery I have gained so much from reading other blogs and websites.  The internet is fantastic for gathering resources and gaining knowledge, it enables me to see sense of the things I don’t understand.  But most importantly I have been inspired by the writers and the people willing to share their stories however personal and that is a gift to be thankful for.  I would like to mention Dennis and Nadia who are over on The United Colon Vlog , http://ucvlog.com/ I am so grateful that during a particularly awful day I discovered their videos on YouTube.  When I wasn’t sat on the toilet seat I watched the videos and began to see that I, like them, could manage this and having a stoma really wasn’t so bad.  I watched their videos and got acquainted with the idea of myself having a stoma and how I could make this a positive thing.   I never really told people I was preparing myself for the possibility of having a stoma, but I knew it, in my heart, I knew my body and colon could not keep going and I began to feel that this previous alien concept of having a stoma could be a reality for me.  I was determined to be prepared, and I am so glad I did.

 I was not really coping with my colitis and had an extremely nasty flare up at home and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.  I stopped breathing, my temperature was 38.6 and my CRP level was around 300.  I had a colonoscopy in the hospital once they had stabilised me and was swiftly greeted by a surgeon as soon as I reached my room.  I don’t really think I had much of a choice, my colon defiantly needed to be removed, but I ultimately had to give INFORMED consent.  Which I did very gladly, I had my emergency colectomy about 12 hours later.  During which I continued to be in excruciating pain and on the loo with blood pouring out of me.  This was obviously not the best time to be looking into stomas and surgery etc, which is why I will never forget Dennis and Nadia for the rest of my life.  Two strangers who have helped me greatly, who have inspired me and given me hope.  I continue to watch their useful videos and this helps me to feel more prepared.  I prefer to know what could happen rather than be in the dark.  Knowledge is power.

So, although I’m sure lots of you have stumbled across Dennis and Nadia, I hope that if you haven’t you now know where to reach them.  Hopefully you will find their videos and articles as helpful as I have.

On the right hand side of my blog, you will find a list of useful websites and blogs that I read.  I would like to mention Hannah from SemiColon http://hannah-semicolon.blogspot.com/ who is also another inspiration; I think she has been through it all, but my goodness whatever is thrown at her she keeps on smiling.  We can all groan and moan and shout and be angry but when life is throwing some hard stuff at you and you can still believe and still be positive, that is truly inspirational.  Also she has the best t-shirt ever... http://hannah-semicolon.blogspot.com/2011/09/operation.html#comment-form which I SOOOO want for my next stay in hospital...how hilarious...you have got to laugh.  Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine J

I’d also like to forward on the request to pray for Nadia who is again, unfortunately in hospital, it seems her disease is very stubborn so I pray that she will recover quickly and that the staff around her make her better and as comfortable as possible. 

I hope you all have a positive and inspirational day. Lx