In this second part of a two-part series (find part one here), Shield HealthCare’s Ostomy Lifestyle Specialist, Laura Cox, interviews her parents about having a child with a stoma. She asks about their experiences and thoughts as her caregivers once she began to recover from her surgery.
Laura’s questions for her parents include:
- What has been the most difficult part of this journey?
- What do you wish you would have known before all of this?
- What was comforting to you during this difficult time?
Laura’s mother wraps up the interview with some advice for parents going through this experience: “Difficult days are difficult, but tomorrow’s a new day. And I think conveying that to your child — that we can get through this and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. And, I can say, in your case, having your ostomy surgery was the best decision you ever made.”
For more information, see related articles and resources here:
- Video: How to Prepare for Your Child’s Ostomy Surgery
- Video: What Is An Ostomy?
- I Don’t Want an Ostomy Bag – Top Concerns for Those Facing Ostomy Surgery
- About Laura Cox, Ostomy Lifestyle Specialist
- Before Ostomy Surgery
You can also find local support groups by visiting the United Ostomy Association here.
Hey Laura, I’m a new ostomate and just got the clearance from my doctor to resume a regular diet. Any tips for things I should watch out for? 
This two-part series was fantastic. As the mom of two kiddos with ostomies, I can totally relate to what her parents are saying. Some days you absolutely feel overwhelmed with indecision, guilt, grief, and just the day-to-day logistics. But she’s right – tomorrow is a new day.
Our two children received their ostomies at 16-months and 12-months old, respectively (not UC or Crohn’s related). At the beginning of our journey, I always thought we were so lucky – they would never remember NOT having an ostomy so this is the only thing they would know; however, our oldest has always struggled with the idea of her ostomy. I’ve talked to parents of kids who received their ostomies as preteens/teens who have been able to point to the “bad years” to help kids who are struggling with the idea of their ostomy, i.e., “Remember how bad things used to be? You were in so much pain and couldn’t do anything. Now look at all of the things you can do!” I *definitely* remember the medical struggles she faced pre-ostomy and they were very difficult and traumatic. But our oldest has no “bad before/good after” frame of reference. I’m afraid it will always be a source of shame and embarrassment for her.