If teenaged years are tough, the twenties can bring into one’s life both challenge and change. At twenty-one ileostomy surgery altered the direction of and the manner in which I lived my life. I’m focused here on just one of the several ways in which my days became different. At twenty-three, still dealing with my new plumbing but growing more accustomed to it, I met a girl for keeping. At twenty-five, I married her. She introduced me to a new pleasure. No, not just that. She was an animal person, an experience my past lacked. She was country, you might say, and I was city. So I learned to bring domestic animals into the home. We’ve had dogs; we’ve had cats. Right now, it’s just four cats. When I get up early in the morning, feeding them is my first chore, even before I put my coffee on. I enjoy watching cats eat. It’s like when you watch a baby sleep. Both the tiny Homo sapiens, and the small Felis catus, are dependent beings for whom you are responsible. There is satisfaction in providing that care. A home with a domestic pet is a warmer, less selfish, place. When my big, long-haired orange girl Fancy Pants climbs up upon my chest and licks my chin, it is a good time of my day.

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Collin shares his top 3 tips on how to stay hydrated while living with an ostomy.
For more tips and resources, check out our Ostomy Learning Center.
For more tips and resources, check out our Ostomy Learning Center.