…and perhaps a poet

I have been very blessed these past 18 months with a great community of friends that I have found online since becoming a health activist and blogger. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and sharing stories and advice about living with an ostomy and inflammatory bowel disease.
Every year, WEGO Health holds the Health Activist Awards as a way to recognize and thank all of the many health activists out there who put so much time and energy into raising awareness about whatever condition they are affected by, either directly or indirectly. I was humbled to be nominated for the “Best in Show: Blog” award this year. It really is an honor.
But I need your help. Apparently, the best way to move forward to a finalist is through multiple nominations. Would you be willing to take about 5 minutes to fill out a nomination?
You can fill one out here. You can put The Stolen Colon or Stephanie Hughes as the name, then choose the award “Best in Show: Blog.” From there, all you need is my email which is stephanie@stolencolon.com and the blog address and that’s it!

I really appreciate all of your support. I am so glad to be a part of such an awesome community! I even wrote a witty little poem to go along with my profile. Enjoy!

I was told I had Crohn’s when I was 13.
I tried drugs and diets and everything in between
But nothing changed the way I felt.
I learned to accept the hand I was dealt.
After years of pain and feeling abused,
My doctor gave me some difficult news.
He said, “Your colon has to go.”
I fought him and said, “My answer is ‘no’.”
But you get to a point where you can no longer fight
And you’ll do anything to make yourself feel alright.
“Just take it away, I can’t do this any more.”
Little did I know what would be in store.
I now carry my poop around in a bag
And while others may say that’s a total drag
It’s the best I’ve felt in 14 years
And that has overshadowed all my fears.
I thought I would have to give up a lot
But I found instead how much I have got.
I live without pain and I finally feel free.
It’s a beautiful life, even with an ostomy.