A stomal awareness, support and information afternoon is coming to Echuca.
Photo by
Cath Grey
An event dedicated to stomal awareness and empowering those with ostomy bags is coming to Echuca Regional Health in March.
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Attendees can hear from guest speaker Nicole Trimboli, the author of What A Sh!t Show! which details her experience of surviving two different cancers, resulting in her receiving an ostomy bag.
Liberation Holistic Health owner Cindy Williams said Ms Trimboli’s book opened her eyes to the daily struggles of those with stomas, including her mother.
Ms Williams, who is also a wound care nurse, teamed up with ERH staff to bring the event to life, which she said would benefit many in the community.
“We’re trying to get people that do have ostomies to realise that they’re not on their own, for starters,” she said.
“The other side of it was to get health professionals to come along, so then they can listen to what it’s like from a patient perspective.”
Patients are often left to deal with the effects of the operation on their own following a review of their ostomy surgery, which can be difficult to navigate.
Information will be available on the day about where attendees can seek advice and help locally, with representatives from Coloplast, Hollister and Wounds Australia invited.
Ms Williams also hoped the event would prompt the creation of a community support group, so those with either permanent or temporary stomas could assist each other.
“There’s a lot of people in our community that have been affected,” she said.
“We know there’s lots of younger people that this happens to ... and there’s the older group, too.”
The free event will run from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the ERH Education Centre on Leichardt St, Echuca.
Copies of Ms Trimboli’s book will be available to purchase, and light refreshments will be supplied.
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