Junior received compensation from Coloplast to provide this information. Each person’s situation is unique so your experience may not be the same.
A full life, redefined
Before surgery, I was thriving. As a former university athlete who calls Halifax, Nova Scotia home, I played basketball competitively in both the U.S. and Canada on academic and athletic scholarships. Off the court, I was an emerging actor entering the world of live theatre, an avid runner, and the founder of a mental health clothing brand called Save Me Save We. Life was full, fast, and forward moving, until it wasn't.
Following a perforated appendix complication, I had to undergo a 12-hour hemicolectomy at Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. When I woke up, I had a stoma.
It wasn't a guarantee going in, but I woke up and there it was. It was a shock. Still, I understood it was placed there for a reason, to preserve my life. Whether I liked it or not, I had to accept it.
Wrestling with reality
Despite knowing it was life-saving, the aftermath wasn't easy. At first, I avoided talking about it, unsure how others would respond to something so personal and so misunderstood.
There's a lot of self-inflicted embarrassment that comes with having a stoma. It impacted my physical confidence and, early on, intimacy with my partner. I avoided public events, skipped outings, and wouldn't travel unless I knew there was a washroom available. The fear of a malfunction was real.
Still, I maintained a positive mindset and reminded myself of a simple truth: it's here to help.
Learning to coexist
Within a month of surgery, I decided to stop fighting against my new reality and start working with it.
This new little friend of mine, we had to figure out how to coexist. I wanted my life back - tennis, workouts, work, travel, all of it. So, I experimented. I learned what worked best for my body and my lifestyle.
The first step of learning to work with it was finding the right products that allowed me to return to the active life I have. Products I would feel safe and secure in, so I wouldn’t overthink about leakage, punctures, or skin irritation.
I am extremely grateful for the home health care team at Lawtons in Bayers Lake, Halifax, who introduced me to Coloplast and have been truly remarkable, welcoming, and supportive through this difficult journey. Without their support, writing this personal journey would truly not be possible.
So, here's what I use in my daily ostomy routine:
- Step 1: I use the Brava® Skin Barrier Wipes, which protect my skin from adhesive burns or leakage.
- Step 2: I use the Brava® Protective Ring Convex, which has been an absolute game changer for protection and making sure there are no leaks around my stoma.
- Step 3: I use the SenSura® Mio Convex Light 1-piece. I prefer the opaque pouches for obvious reasons. This pouch has kept me locked in, physically and mentally, through long, active days.
- Step 3.5: When I have a tennis match or go out and play basketball, I like to throw on a Brava® Elastic Barrier Strip. It helps secure the pouch even more during brisk and sharp movements. I also feel like it protects it better from sweat.
- Step 4: When it’s time to remove and repeat, I use the sting-free Brava® Adhesive Remover Wipes to keep my skin healthy and irritation-free.
Words to the newly diagnosed
To anyone preparing for life with a stoma, feel all the feels. Yes, your body will change - how it looks, how it sounds, and that deserves space. But don't stay stuck in mourning. The life ahead is just as beautiful.
Experiment with products until you find what helps you move through life confidently. You're not less, you're becoming.
You can follow Junior on Instagram here.
