Finding Yourself

This year has been a tough one so far. In four months I have been hospitalized three times, one of them for emergency surgery to remove parts of my colon and large intestine because my biologic medicine was failing me.

You never know how sick you are until you feel good. Before surgery I was about 140 lbs and in pain half the time, with bloating and diarrhea, along with fevers and lack of energy. After surgery I am up to 180 lbs with no pain, no problems, and energy that I have not had in 16 years. I am not saying you should go out and get surgery, but for me, I never would have thought a colostomy bag would make me feel this good in my entire life.

With an upcoming surgery in July to make my colostomy permanent, the emotions you can feel are very strong. You wonder how it will affect the rest of your life, what things you can no longer do, and what things you may need to change. I went through all of these feelings and had to find the positive in all of it. Now my wife and I joke about it all the time. I have yet to have the surgery, but I know no matter what, life will not stop for me. I will just move forward and always look for the positive in everything.