“I feel extremely lucky. I feel lucky that I get to walk my dog, go to the grocery store, watch the sunset, hang out with my friends, go to dinner with my family, and simply wake up in the morning, especially since there was a time where I wished I wouldn’t wake up. I didn’t want to deal with the things that came with waking. I didn’t want to deal with the cramps, body aches, chills, fatigue, bathroom anxiety, and everything else that went along with having severe ulcerative colitis. I was in so much pain every day, both physically and mentally. I felt alone and isolated with my disease, pulling away from my friends and family. I finally decided enough was enough and chose to get a total colectomy, leaving me with an ileostomy bag. I wanted to take back control of my life and start living again.
While this is not a path I would have chosen for myself, I feel lucky because it gave me a purpose in life. I decided to apply to nursing school to help those in similar situations, specifically people with ostomy bags. Living with an ostomy or any other medical device can be a very scary change, but it shouldn’t keep you from living your life. Instead, it should allow you to live it the way that you want to! While my life hasn’t gone the direction that I had planned, I feel lucky. I get to share my experiences, promote awareness, and help others with their journeys. I get to make more memories and I get to enjoy every little thing in life. Whenever you think that you ‘have to’ do something, just remember that you ‘get to.'”
Taylie
