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P.S.: Straight From the Heart

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Free Spirit
Dec 13, 2025 2:48 am

I have a bend in my legs from spinal meningitis at ten months of age. I learned how to walk the way that I and it's never really held me back. Thank you to everyone for your kind and thoughtful words about my previous posts. There's a special place in my heart, spirit and soul, that belongs to this ever wonderful community. Your struggles, your triumphs, your courage, your compassion, your inspiration and so much more.

This is one "Straight from my heart to yours"... Each challenge we face, each new experience we have, each moment of joy we feel and all that we share together.. that really is such a beautiful part of this journey. Helping one another to find our way, each magical step counts. You've all taught me that and you continually reinforce the principle of compassion and the principle of community with each post, each message, and each shared experience.

"Thank you" from my heart to each of yours. If I hadn't have had my urostomy, I wouldn't have had the gift of being a member here. Something that is truly "Priceless".

💖

Bill
Dec 13, 2025 9:19 am

Hello Free Spirit.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts
It's made my day!
Best wishes

Bill

Immarsh

Hi All, If you have an " old" or recent ostomy, this is the place for you. I think I've been a member for more than 15 years, but I have had my surgery, since I was a kid of 15 ( do the math-that's more than 60 years ago). As a teen, with a new ostomy ( for Ulcerative colitis) my parents dragged me off to my first ostomy association meeting. I wasn't happy, but in the long run, it's the best thing that happened to me. I met others, older, and teens like me, adjusting to the changes. A group of us started a Young adult group, and helped each other, and even visited kids who were new to the world of ostomies. But soon I married, and moved out of state, and although made some connections with other NJ ostomates, I became pretty much isolated. Until I discovered MaO. By then, I was having a myriad of other medical issues, and my aging stoma " wasn't doing well". I received a lot of help and support from members! I was pleased that I was also back to supporting others. I met a gal on line (from Papua New Guinea) who was trying to help ostomates in her country. There is a scarcity of supplies in some other countries, and unlike the US, insurance to pay for supplies isn't available. When my son followed his "love" twenty years ago, and moved to Australia I took advantage of an opportunity to help other ostomates. On one of my first visits to Oz, I brought a suitcase full of Ostomy supplies, handed them off to an Ostomy assoc. On the Gold Coast, who then had a friend take them to PNG. They were grateful for the help, and Janet and I still write.. This is the place to be, if you need help, and it also gives you the opportunity to provide help and support to others. Feel free to write, if you'd like to chat, about things ostomy, or life in general. Best REgards to all.. Marsha

IGGIE
Dec 13, 2025 10:44 am

Life's good and you just made it a little bit better.

Regards IGGIE😉

Free Spirit
Dec 13, 2025 5:46 pm

Thank you Bill, we're in this together and our community here, all Rock and you know it! 🙂

Free Spirit
Dec 13, 2025 5:48 pm

Thank you IGGIE, just like I was saying in the message to Bill, this wonderful community is always so caring and you all Rock! 🙂

 

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

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bowsprit
Dec 13, 2025 7:48 pm

You express your thoughts and emotions in such a wonderful way, in the first post as well as in this one. Lots of lovely people frequent these pages. I have learned a lot from them, not just about stomas but about grit and determination also. All the best wishes.

SusanT
Dec 13, 2025 7:48 pm

You remind me that community is the gift that keeps giving.

Morning glory
Dec 13, 2025 9:15 pm

Thank you for your lovely words. God bless.

TerryLT
Dec 13, 2025 10:14 pm

Thanks again for you kind words. It's nice to remember and appreciate that we all are contributing something special here, where we are able to help ourselves and others in the process.

Terry

Free Spirit
Dec 14, 2025 2:20 am

Thank you for all your kind words everyone, you all make such a positive difference. I meet with my nefruologist on Tuesday and my GFR has been getting quite low... It's been a lifetime that I have had reflux in the urinary tract and then the other things that happened along the way. I take things one day at a time at this point. My GFR has been up and down, it's never been as low as it has been this last time doing the lab work for the upcoming doctor appointment.

At the end of the day.....I know that if my words here help in anyway, at any time, then it has all been worth it. Thank you for your gentle cyber reassurance that they do. You're all Super StellaRiffic Times 10 to Infinity! 🙂

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