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Dear members of the Winnipeg Ostomy Association it gives me great pleasure on behalf of the members of the United Ostomy Association of Canada Inc., and the member countries of The North and Central America and Caribbean Ostomy Association to add congratulations on this your 35 Anniversary celebration.
Please allow me to recall a personal experience. In the fall of 1996 I underwent ostomy surgery. The experience was new to me and my wife Astrid. We had no knowledge of others who had experienced this surgery and the anxiety was overwhelming. Thankfully Astrid is very skilled with computers and the electronic information highway. Her search led us to the Australian Ostomy Association. They provided us with some information including the email address of the Winnipeg site. I will always be grateful for the help we received from your members, help that included information, encouragement and good wishes. That was a personal experience but I have talked with other ostomates that have also benefited from their contact with you.
You were the recipient of the 2007 Alan Porter Award presented by the Friends of Ostomates Worldwide Canada (FOWC) for help that goes beyond our borders and you received 1st place in the World Ostomy Day (WOD) recognition award presented by the ConvaTec Company for increasing the awareness of the Ostomy experience in your community. These swards are confirmation that you are doing it right. The many positive comments I hear are additional confirmations.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, ENJOY YOUR CELEBRATION, AND HAVE A FUN TIME!!
Doug Graham
President, United Ostomy Association of Canada, Inc.
President, North and Central America and Caribbean Ostomy Association
