Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 33

EXPLAINING MY OSTOMY What I've Lost
" WHOA! That's crazy! Didn't you feel
that?! "
" Nope! I don't feel anything now. All
those gotta go feelings are in your bladder.
Since I don't have a bladder, I don't
feel anything when I urinate. When my
kidneys are done processing the urine,
they spit it out into my pouch. "
" Cool! That's baller! I mean, you know
it's kind of crazy and weird, but it's baller
too. "
After a bit more conversation about
what I had experienced and what he had
been up to since graduation, we got on
with the rest of the tournament.
The thing is, there is absolutely no reason
to hide what we've gone through. No
reason to hide our scares, medical aides,
medical appliances, or the psychosocial
experiences we have encountered because
of our diagnosis. No reason whatsoever.
Stigmas and stereotypes only thrive
when we remain silent. They are broken
when they are discussed and brought into
normal conversations. Since I didn't, and
I don't, make a big deal about having an
ostomy, none of the people in my life
have made a big deal about it or viewed
it negatively.
Living through bladder cancer and
knowing I will have to wear a medical
appliance for the rest of my life brings
challenges. There is no doubt about that.
However, there is nothing to be ashamed
of. There is absolutely nothing to hide.
I view my scars and ostomy as symbols
of my survival. My survivorship. They
are badges of honor and valor that prove
I kicked cancer's ass.
Living with a medical appliance or
using medical aides is no different than
a person with diabetes who wears a glucometer
or a cardiac patient who lives
with a pacemaker in their chest.
That's not to say that getting to the
point of openness, honesty, and even
pride isn't a process. It most definitely
is!
Through my experiences since being
diagnosed, I have been involved in various
cancer and ostomy communities.
Being involved in the ostomy community
has allowed me to become close with
many Wound, Ostomy, and Continence
Nurses (WOCNs). The sing le mos t
helpful piece of advice that has echoed
throughout all their wisdom is: You must
take time to grieve the body you lost.
I' l l say that again-You must take
time to grieve the body you lost.
Grieve the strength, organs, abilities,
or whatever else has physically affected
your body throughout your cancer
experience.
Gr ieving these pieces of yoursel f
opens you up to acceptance and healing.
It allows you the space and opportunity
to grow into thriving once again.
I don't know about any of you, but I
refuse to give in. I will strive to thrive
as long as I have breath in my lungs.
I will strive to have every new person
who crosses my path have that very same
feeling Twix had learning about what
my body had been through. Instead of
feeling pity or expressing their sorrow, I
want people to look at my resiliency and
adaptations as " Cool! That's baller! " l
" Living with a medical
appliance or using
medical aides is no
different than a person
with diabetes who
wears a glucometer or
a cardiac patient who
lives with a pacemaker
in their chest. "
LIZ HILES LIVES IN
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
SHE IS CURRENTLY
THE ENGAGEMENT
SPECIALIST AT GRYT
HEALTH, WHICH
IS BASED OUT OF
ROCHESTER, NEW
YORK. SHE IS ALSO A
FREELANCE WRITER
FOR THE WEST RIVER
EAGLE WEEKLY
PUBLICATION IN
EAGLE BUTTE, SOUTH
DAKOTA, AND A
CONTRIBUTOR AND
MODERATOR FOR
BLADDERCANCER.NET,
TYPE2DIABETES.COM,
AND MIGRANE.COM WITH
HEALTH UNION, BASED
OUT OF PHILADELPHIA,
PENNSYLVANIA.
SHE IS PASSIONATE
ABOUT BLADDER
CANCER, YOUNG ADULT
CANCER, AND OSTOMY
AWARENESS AND CAN
OFTEN BE FOUND
PROMOTING THESE
CAUSES. LIZ ENJOYS
SPENDING TIME WITH
FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND
ANIMALS IN HER FREE
TIME, ESPECIALLY IF
SHE CAN COMBINE
THAT WITH OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES, BEING
CREATIVE , READING,
AND RELAXING.
ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
DECEMBER 2022
33
http://www.BLADDERCANCER.NET http://www.TYPE2DIABETES.COM http://Migraine.com http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
Elephants and Tea - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Elephants and Tea - December 2022
