Andrew's Story

I am writing this on behalf of my 4 year old son Andrew, who became an ostomate on 12th of April, 2000.

Andrew had severe and chronic constipation since birth and was having enemas every three days until just before his third birthday. After much cajoling I finally managed to persuade my paediatrician to refer Andrew to a gastro-enterologist at a major hospital here in England. We went to Leeds General and met Andrew's guardian angel, Mr Stringer. Here was someone who did not have me down as a hysterical mum and who believed that Andrew was not just some devil child who deliberately stopped himself from going to the toilet!

After tests it was decided that Andrew had Idiopathic Slow Transit Bowel, and that his bowel basically did not squeeze. He suggested we try a relatively new procedure called a caecostomy, which involved inserting a small tube into his caecom and using it flush out his bowel with enema and saline. Ideally, this would keep his bowel empty and therefore Andrew would no longer be in such a lot of pain. Sadly, this was unsuccessful, probably due to the fact that during surgery it was discovered that Andrews bowel was very long and loopy, and very dilated. It was with some trepidation that myself and my husband went back to Leeds to discuss an ileostomy.

Angel No 1 had gone on to pastures new so we then met angel No 2, Mr Sugarman. We decided that the best thing for Andrew was to try an ileostomy, but to leave his bowel in situ for the time being and keep his caecostomy to use as a means of flushing his bowel and getting rid of the mucus.

He had his surgery 3 days before his 4th birthday and I can honestly say that I do not regret a single moment since he had it done. He is a different little boy and drives me mad with his energy and huge lust for life. There is no holding him and I have had so many "blow-outs" I can't even begin to count them. He constantly knocks off his bag or loses it in the night. However, we all take it in our stride and his two brothers and one sister think the world of him and know as much about his ostomy as I do. He starts school in September and although he needs an assistant on hand to change his bag, he is no different to any other child in his class. He has an ostomy doll called Robin, who was given to him by his nurses and he uses him to show other kids what his ostomy is all about. He loves to show his "bag and button" off to everyone, especially in cafes, which is a great way of getting a seat.

I wish none of this had to happen to my lovely little boy, but it did, and Andrew is a joy to his dad and me and to everyone else who knows him and if any other parent is facing making a decision about their child have any kind of stoma then I hope this will help. It is the best thing ever and it has changed my son and my whole families life....for the better.

By the way, Shaz, I think your site is the best I have ever found so keep up the good work. Parents of ostokids don't always get much support but I feel I get it here. Thanks again.

Lots of love Gail, John, Andrew, Matt, Katie and Tom.

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