10 Year's Later, This is Where My Ostomy is. Where's Yours? - Uncover Ostomy
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10 Year’s Later, This is Where My Ostomy is. Where’s Yours?

10 years ago today, I was suffering. 10 years ago today, I almost died. 10 years ago today, I underwent surgery.

January 31, 2013 – 10 years ago today – I was given my ostomy.

1 decade ago I was given a second chance at life.

Un-frikkin’-believable.

Despite today being a pretty awesomely exciting day for me, this blog post isn’t about me. I’m not going to go into my story and how I got here, nor am I going to talk about how grateful I am to be alive. You all already know this.

Instead, today’s blog post is about you.

Please watch.

Today I am launching the “Where’s Your Ostomy” effort from Uncover Ostomy to push the envelope on how, together, we can raise positive ostomy awareness worldwide.

And I need your help!

You’ve already taken the first step by watching the video. Here are 4 simple things to do next:

1.SHARE the VIDEO! Please share the video above with ALL of your social networks, family networks, work networks- everything. Post it on Facebook, Tweet it on Twitter, Share on Pinterest and LinkedIn, email it to your contact lists, play it on a large screen tv in a Best Buy…. ANYTHING! Share this video with everyone you possibly can!

2. BUY the SHIRT! We are selling two tshirts with the help of the wonderful team at Teespring!

-For people with ostomies:  “This is where my ostomy is”

-For people without ostomies: “This is where my ostomy would be”

Teespring is a crowdfunding based selling platform. “Crowdfunding” is when a certain number of items need to be “reserved” for the order to be processed. Uncover Ostomy is selling shirts for the next 21 days with a minimum of 75 shirts/ostomates 100 shirts/non-ostomates. We need to sell at least 75/100, for the order to process. If you are confused about ordering, please see the Teespring FAQ, or comment or post on the UO pages and we can help!

3. SHARE the SHIRT! The shirts will only be printed if we sell a minimum of 75 ostomate shirts and 100 non-ostomate shirts!

4. WEAR the SHIRT! If, after 21 days, we end up selling the minimum number of tshirts (and hopefully more!) and you get them in the mail (WITH a fabric pen included), we ask that you draw where your ostomy is, or where you would want your ostomy to be and whatever other fancy designs you’d like to add and then WEAR IT in public!

5. SNAP some PHOTOS! Once you’ve received your shirt and drawn alllll over it, we will be running a contest that involves both the shirt and pictures!… but those details are yet to come. Remember – that’s only if we end up selling out those shirts. (So get sharing!)

Guys- this is it. This is our chance to change perceptions. To change negativity. To change minds.

Let’s do this.

———————————–

All proceeds raised from sale of the tshirts will go towards ostomy education, awareness, and future Uncover Ostomy efforts through IDEAS.

Jessica Grossman
info@uncoverostomy.org
10 Comments
  • Kristen
    Posted at 00:43h, 01 February Reply

    Jess… are we limited to those two designs? I’d rather have a “This is where my ostomy was” (since I had a temporary ileostomy). I feel like “This is where my ostomy would be” doesn’t pay enough homage to the ostomy that I once had that saved me.

    Working in healthcare, having patients with colostomies, ileostomies, gastrostomies, urostomies, trachieostomies… I sometimes feel so surrounded with a world where ostomies are commonplace, that I was honestly surprised that you happened upon people who still don’t know.

    BTW… my spell check doesn’t recognize any of the -ostomies. WTH!!

    • Jess
      Posted at 00:46h, 01 February Reply

      Hey Kristen!

      I have that design made actually, just didn’t think it was worth it to sell them yet. If I see there’s a big outpouring of requests for them, I can definitely have them made as well!

      Yes, it’s also crazy that spellcheck doesn’t recognize ostomy.

      Please share it with everyone you know! Thank you!

      • Kristen
        Posted at 00:49h, 01 February Reply

        K! If nothing else… I can put the fabric pen to good use and cross out is and add was!

        Thanks Jess! I’ll definitely pass it on! =) Its a great idea!

        • Jess
          Posted at 00:54h, 01 February Reply

          I think the crossing out could be cute!

          Thanks!

      • JessIca
        Posted at 01:36h, 13 February Reply

        I was thinking the same thing, since I don’t have one anymore, however the crossing out would work too! And if you ever come out with the other ones, I’ll just have to get another 🙂

        PS Great work Jess!!!

  • John
    Posted at 01:29h, 01 February Reply

    Mine used to be on that side. It was moved to the other.

  • Robert Turnbull
    Posted at 17:23h, 01 February Reply

    Great video’s and cause – I have my ostomy reversed next week – wish I had seen some of this material 3 months ago as I just learned syuff that I could have used – I will order a T-shirt – and cross out is and replace with was – great effort thanks

  • Laurel
    Posted at 18:54h, 01 February Reply

    I am so impressed Jessica! Way to go girl! Not only are you a beautiful, funny, intelligent, outgoing entrepreneur you are also a great role model for people who have ostomies and for everyone who deals with changes to their bodies as well as helping us all increase our understanding and open-mindedness. Your attitude is so healthy and proud and I so hope that my daughter and son, who deals with type 1 diabetes, can learn from your spirit and caring. Thank you Jessica for your energy and creating such a powerful video!

  • Nadia Fuad
    Posted at 19:20h, 02 February Reply

    Jess, This was a great campaign and video! I absolutely loved it! What a great way to spread the awareness! You are not only a role model for me, but to SOOOO many others out there with ostomies!! I loved how you are so free to talk about it to complete strangers! Way to go!! ~Nadia

  • sonia einstoss
    Posted at 22:49h, 02 February Reply

    you are a wonderful young woman. your father would be so proud of you
    good luck
    sonia einstoss (Philip’s mother, friend of your father)

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