Category: The In Between
-
What Bathing and Toileting Really Look Like With a Parastomal Hernia and Ileostomy
An honest account of bathing and toileting with a parastomal hernia and ileostomy, exploring safety, dignity, exhaustion and daily risk at home.
-
A Dream, a Necklace and the Gift of Being Cared For
A reflective piece on dreams, independence and learning to receive care. Through symbols of self-worth, support and emotional healing. This post explores how accepting help can coexist with strength during periods of change and recovery.
-
When a System That Worked for 21 Years Was Replaced
A reflective account of living comfortably with the same flat flange (baseplate) ileostomy system for 21 years, then developing pain and bruising after switching to a convex pouch. A gentle exploration of parastomal hernias, pressure-related discomfort and why listening to your body matters.
-
I Didn’t Start Writing to Be a Writer
A personal blog about writing as survival, healing through words, trauma, emotional breakdown and finding clarity when life falls apart.
-
When Rest Starts to Hurt Too
A gentle, first-hand reflection on tailbone pain caused by prolonged rest while living with a parastomal hernia and learning to listen to the body.
-
I’m Tired of Thinking About Food All the Time
A reflective piece on the mental load of eating with an ileostomy and parastomal hernia, exploring food anxiety, decision fatigue, grief and the quiet exhaustion of managing risk everyday.
-
The Day Hope Fell Through My Hands.
A long-awaited surgical appointment became the moment hope quietly slipped away. This piece is a reflection on living with a parastomal hernia and ileostomy, medical limbo, uncertainty and the grief that follows when the future you imagined suddenly feels out of reach.