WINNIPEG-Sept 14, 2009. A church in River Heights will host a party for hundreds of people as the city's participation in a worldwide campaign to draw attention to one of medical science's most overlooked miracles. World Ostomy Day happens Saturday, October 3rd, at Westworth United Church. Three thousand Manitobans have an ostomy. The procedure re-routes the bowel or bladder functions, and is typically life-saving for its recipients.
"Ostomies aren't usually polite dinner conversation-but they are medical miracles to the people who get them" says Lorrie Pismenny, President of the Winnipeg Ostomy Association. "They are life changing improvements for a lot of our members, many of whom have had them as cancer treatment, or as a surgical solution to years of pain from Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis-they are literally a new lease on life for us. We have members of all ages. Some are young children. Our oldest member is in her eighties. She's had an ostomy since 1946 and is still going strong. "
Pismenny says there are approximately 55,000 ostomates across Canada. But Pismenny says there is such a social taboo about some of our basic body functions, that there can still be a tremendous stigma attached to the issue of eliminating personal waste through the use of a medical appliance. And that's why she's particularly glad to see this year's theme for World Ostomy Day. The theme is "Reaching Out".
"The medical supplies we use are light-years ahead of where we were even 20 years ago. "says Pismenny. "With them, our people have the ability to be active, healthy, and easily able to manage their appliances with a minimum of fuss. You may know someone with an ostomy, and not realize it-we are literally the people in your neighbourhood. But we have some catching up to do, where public acceptance is concerned."
World Ostomy Day is held only once every three years, with events and there are celebrations planned for October 3rd in dozens of countries on every continent. The Winnipeg chapter won a national award last time around, for an event they staged in 2006, and Pismenny vows they want to top their last accomplishment.
"There will be a family barbeque, entertainment, exhibits, prizes, and even 75 free pumpkins grown right here in Manitoba for the first 75 folks through the door. It's going to be a ton of fun!"
World Ostomy Day in Winnipeg is Saturday October 3rd, from 11AM until 2PM (rain or shine) at Westworth United Church, 1750 Grosvenor Avenue. Admission is free.
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Interviews with individual ostomy recipients can be arranged on request. People ready to tell you their stories include: