Residents seeking support after an ostomy surgery now have a monthly support group in Chatham-Kent.
"I felt very alone, very lost, and very scared," said Katherine Verrall, a Chatham resident who has been living with an ostomy for 25 years.
"It took me a long time to get past even leaving the house without fear of my ostomy breaking or having an accident."
She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
Verrall said she received information from nurses after her surgery but wasn’t aware of any additional support beyond what she was told.
"My husband was my saving grace," said Verrall. "He was everything to me."
She connected with Lori Zozzolotto, a registered nurse that works with patients who have ostomies, and shortly after the two women formed the Chatham-Kent Ostomy Support Group.
The group held its first meeting on December 12, 2022.
According to the Ostomy Canada Society, an ostomy is an opening made into the bowel or urinary tract through surgery for the purpose of diverting urine or stool from the body.
Most people with an ostomy wear a discreet pouch to cover the stoma, which is the surgically created opening in the abdomen, and collects body waste.
"I found myself [25 years ago] facing life with an ileostomy after having surgery for ulcerative colitis," said Verrall. "At the time, my ulcerative colitis progressed rather quickly and in order to save my life, I required this surgery."
The purpose of the group is to create a space where people, adults or children living with an ostomy, can meet and talk about their experiences, share tips, and connect with experts that specialize in ostomies.
"We want to make sure we're giving the best information that we can and offering the best support that we can," said Verrall. "We're also there to be there as a group."
Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at Christ Anglican Church in Chatham at 80 Wellington St. W. from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The group will take June, July, and August off before starting back up in September.
Anyone who might benefit from this group can find more information by visiting the Chatham-Kent Ostomy Support Group's Facebook page.
