Donation of Colostomy Bags from Canada

The arrival of ostomy bags for Mang Ver has been very timely. The ostomy appliances were courtesy of the friend of ostomates in canada under President Astrid.



Mang Ver, 53-years-old, as he is commonly called is a taxi driver by profession. He contracted a mass in the large intestine which at first he did not pay attention. He then noticed stomach cramps and constipation. When the symptoms presented itself, it was the only time that he went to the hospital for a check-up. It was found out that the mass had grown and had been blocking the passage of the stool that was causing his bloody diarrhea.

After a biopsy was made, it was found out to be rectal cancer. There and then, after the check-up, it was advised to have the cancer portion removed. He was diagnosed with rectal cancer and had his surgery for colostomy on February 27, 2008. This was succeeded with cobalt therapy for the next 25 days after being finally diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer.

Mang Ver is thankful for the donation of the supply of bags coming from FOW-C inasmuch as for the span of 6 months, beginning from February up to July, he was contented to use only 3 colostomy bags owing to the fact that they were poor and he had no work.

What he did to sustain the use of the wafer was that when the stomahesive wafer has dissolved with the white plastic remaining, he washes it out thoroughly and then reinforces it with the hard plastic from playing cards. The playing card is cut with a hole in the middle. He reattaches the overused colostomy bag and puts micropore tape around the stoma. Consequently, although well improvised, the bag continuously smells.

Due to financial constraints, He had been accustomed too of not wearing any colobag at one point of his life with the stoma exposed and hanging out. Because of this he stays inside his room and has since then stop driving/working as a taxi driver. He used to sell food as a way to earn but then his neighbors never bought from him learning upon his condition.

Mang Ver tells me that the bags will be a lot of help and will somehow bring him back some confidence in mingling with his friends and neighbors again. Hopefully, it can possibly give him enough courage to get back to mainstream society and go back to work as a taxi driver once again.

Securing the Ostomy Clip Bag

We are all familiar with the reliable rubber band. It is a short length of rubber and latex formed in the shape of a loop. These bands are typically used to hold multiple objects together.

We get to play with rubber bands when we were still small. However, up to now it still serves a lot of purpose especially for ostomy living.

I consider the rubber band as an additional ostomy appliance too. I have several of them kept along my ostomy kit. For added security, I use them to secure the removable clip of my colostomy bag. It gives me extra confidence that the clip although secured, will not further slip away.

I advise using rubber bands because I had accidents where the ostomy bag clip slipped away from pouch bag. This can happen in instances when I get to pull to change trousers or just getting stuck between chairs transferring from one one place to another. What can be more humiliating is the mess and smell not to mention the embarrassment when people around would get to find out about the spillage.

Hence, I always remember the saying “Better be safe than sorry.” Every moment, I don’t forget to secure my clip with a rubber band.

Happy 2009 New Year to Everyone

Wishing my friends and fellow ostomates a blessed and fruitful New Year. We have looked at a very happy 2008 with our meetings and friendships. We look forward to a more happy and activity oriented meetings this 2009.

For all ostomates, people with pouch bags, I wish you a healthy new year ahead. Let us fight all these trials which are only temporary.

God bless us all.

Dacawi: Humanitarian golds

By Ramon Dacawi
Benchwarmer

UST hours before China unfolded its pageantry and fireworks display in Beijing, Edgar Dacanay, a 36-year-old barber, was fidgety. Edlyn Joy, his two-year-old daughter, was an unsure starter for her next crucial bout. The kid is in a personal combat event of sorts she's too young to comprehend and wage and her family simply can't afford.

Edgar couldn't watch seeded Filipino boxer Harry Tanamor's debacle Tuesday night in the hands of Ghanaian light-flyweight Manyo Plange. He had to be at the corner of her kid. He learned of Tanamor's fate only the following morning, when he and his wife Merlinda were on their way to bring home Edlyn Joy. The kid had just pulled through her fourth bout and will rest for her next fight.

Each victory of the kid - and kids all over - is worth more than an Olympic medal. Her battle is protracted - against a dreaded Goliath who has no regard for disparities in age, weight and height, and too wily, deceptive and painfully brutal. Edgar and Melinda can only be relieved, thankful people came to cheer for their daughter and hope they will be around before the next round.

Edlyn Joy is battling cancer. The big C is at her tailbone, diagnosed as sacrococcygeal tumor. Doctors said it's malignant.

That's why hours before the opening of the World Olympics, people who heard came to see her being admitted for her next chemotherapy session at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

Juliet, a public school teacher, handed Edgar P5,000. She said it came from her brother Irwin Ilustre. Earlier, a woman delivered P4,000 at the barbershop, saying it was from an anonymous donor. A mother and son added P1,000.

As Edlyn Joy was being wheeled into the chemo room, a man caught up with them. He handed Edgar a wad, and reminding him of the power of prayer. When he has settled the kid on her bed for her six-day chemo confinement, Edgar remembered and counted the man's support. He then called him up, saying it was too generous - P16,000.

The man said he understands how difficult the ordeal was for Edgar and his family. He said he knew because he, too, survived cancer survivor. That's why he came, he said.

That's also why when Edlyn Joy's illness was diagnosed, her uncle Antonio, a farmer in Tubao, La Union sold his cow and had the small family land he was tilling tied to a loan. With no land to farm, he came up to watch over the kid, so her father can cut hair at the United Barbershop behind the Tiongsan Bazaar. So her mother can go back to work and repay her wage loan as a salesgirl at the Maharlika Building.

So Edgar and Merlinda could attend a court hearing last Thursday morning before bringing her home to their rented house in Loakan Proper Barangay. The hearing was about what happened to John Emerson. Edlyn Joy's elder brother, three years ago.

That was when John, then eight, and a classmate of his were walking to their second grade class when a passenger jeepney bumped him. He died two days after the accident in late January 2005.

Edgar said John, his second son, was able to push the other kid, saving him.

That's why Edgar can't give up on Edlyn Joy, whose other brother, Edmher, now 13, is in first year high school. That's why members of members of the Chrysanthemum Lions Club came to her hospital bedside, handing colostomy bags so Edgar won't worry about having to buy them for a while.

SunStar Baguio

Esteem Synergy Convex Wafer and Bag

Convex Wafer and Bags

What is a Convex Wafer?

The special kind of wafer adjusts to the stoma inasmuch as it does not protrude but it is situated inside the abdomen. There are stomas that are flat and follows the normal contour of the stomach. This will require ordinary stomahesive wafers.

The use of convex wafers are especially helpful for the stoma that is deeply embedded. This will ensure that the wafer will stick and last long as it follows a convex shape.

See figure below.

I have excess convex wafers and I am giving it out for free. My stoma is not embedded but it lies flat. I will be most happy to give it to those who are in need. Please feel free to contact me so I can give you the wafer and bags.
Maraming salamat po.!