Ostomy Reality (Bites)

The Correspondents, July 29: Dugtong ng Buhay

The Correspondents

“Dugtong ng Buhay”

July 29, 2008

They were able to survive cancer. But in exchange for their life’s extension, they have to live with a bag everyday – literally. Ostomates have undergone surgical operation to remove the cancer-stricken part of their intestines. Now, their intestines are peeking through their bodies, with them having no control of their bowel movement. They have to use colostomy bags to catch the involuntary dispersal of their stool.

They live in fear of being discriminated upon. Although the presence of the colostomy bag under their clothes is hardly noticeable by those they encounter, they are afraid that they would suddenly smell, or would uncontrollably defecate in the middle of a long journey. And worse, a lot of ostomates in the Philippines cannot even afford the colostomy bags: a disposable colostomy bag costs P350 and is good for only three days.

Ruben Gidacan, 42, has his ostomy since 1998. But a tragic string of events befell on him – his wife agreed that they separate because he could no longer support his family financially, he no longer was able to drive for a living. And just very recently, his brother Ariel died from the cancer – something very similar to what he had years ago. The only hope he is holding to now is the possibility that his ostomy is only temporary. He could go for a restorative operation for his condition.

Cita Guanzon, 39, could not afford the colostomy bags. She places household plastic bags inside the colostomy bag to extend the days of use. Whenever stool would come out, she would throw the plastic bag away and replace it with another one. Although cheap, she has very serious rashes around her colostomy. She used to hide her condition at the beginning, but her husband’s unconditional love keeps her intact.

The lives of Ruben and Cita, among other ostomates the episode will feature, are stories of sacrifices and hope.

Take your Tuesday evening with Bernadette Sembrano and The Correspondents team in this episode on ostomates. Watch with an open mind, and an open heart. July 29, after Bandila.

Link taken below.

Thank you to scarredempress

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Addendum:

The sad fate of the ostomates here in the Philippines continue. The television exposure for this documentary worked both ways: both good and bad. Some people were willing to help and at the same time some people were not ready to accept the situation.

I am writing in behalf of Ruben my fellow member of the Ostomy Association of the Philippines. He would share that it was a joy to be featured in TV but the joy was shortlived.

Many people who were his usual customers stopped buying from him upon learning of his condition. A month after since the August airing, "wala na siyang kinikita sa trabaho niya."

Some OAP members are planning to get help from other sources because the media exposure had somehow backfired on us. These are lessons learned on the situation of what ostomates in the Philippines encounter. There is no wonder that many ostomates would hide and never reveal the condition to others even to one of their closest friends.