Minna's Story

My name is Minna. I’m 22 years old. I have a disability called Cerebral Palsy. November 2004 has changed my life forever.

November 3, 2004 I had blood poisoning and I had to have emergency surgery. My colon had gotten too big and it had to be removed. At 6:00pm I went into the operating room. I remember saying to the doctor, “Please don't lose me!” I woke up at 9pm, and asked my mom what had happened. She said that I had gotten a colostomy bag. I thought, "Why me? Why did I need this?"

I had already lost my dad from colon cancer and I was disabled. The next days weren’t easy; I remember lying there in the hospital bed in terrible pain. Day by day it got better. I was able to go home November 12, 2004. Everything was different and I wanted to be normal. I had to get used to the colostomy bag changes and all of the nurses. I have had the colostomy for 8 months now.

I have learned that I'm not the only one with a colostomy. I want to teach the world not to look at me like I am just a girl in a wheelchair with a colostomy, and can't do anything. Instead, I want the world to see that I am a person who is dating another disabled person and that I can do everything anyone else can do. It is really hard at times, but now I am engaged! I thought that I would never make it because of the colostomy. However, this entire experience has helped to shape me into the person I am today.

...Minna

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