01 Feb How the Years Fly By

Once again, I forgot about my bag-aversary.

As of yesterday, I have had my ostomy for 8 years.

I guess it’s a good thing that I keep forgetting about this day because my ostomy is just another part of my body. I don’t have a day to celebrate my middle finger or my left ear, so why celebrate the day that saved my life?

…Ok, well maybe there’s some reason to celebrate…

Even though I had forgotten to commemorate this special day, it didn’t matter because the day had consisted of simple everyday activities that used to seem impossible while I was suffering with Crohn’s disease.

I had spent the day cleaning my room and doing laundry, activities that are difficult to do when the pain is too much to get out of bed. Later that evening, I had a lovely movie night with my sisters Megan [the new AGD president] and Amy. Though this is such a common activity for others my age, it is especially significant for me. I had spent so much time isolated and alone in the hospital that spending any amount of time with friends is meaningful. To top the night off, I had a visit from the ice cream fairy, who dropped off a tub of cookie dough ice cream on my doorstep. I had been complaining to someone earlier that evening that I was craving it and, surely enough, he had dropped some off for me. This was not only super sweet, but made my night complete. I was able to stuff my face with this amazing dessert that I was once not allowed to eat because of my disease.

Every day I am reminded of how far I have come all because of this surgery.  Today, I was reminded through an email I received from my university. This email informed me of the date I was to register for graduation; the time to tell the university I had completed all my requirements and was ready to become an adult.

As of this May, I will be a graduate of the University of Western Ontario.

Though I am not sure what will happen at this time, whether I get into the graduate schools I’ve applied to or will be working full-time, I can be thankful that I have made it this far. 8 years ago I would have never dreamed I’d be preparing for this time of my life.

I know it’s been 8 years and this whole positive outlook seems so repetitive. I keep going on and on about how amazing things are now that I no longer suffer from Crohn’s disease because of my ostomy.

Well, it should be repetitive because it never stops being true.