Today we have the pleasure of highlighting a wonderful patient, Florence, a remarkable 100 and a half-year-old woman who has been living with a urostomy for almost thirty years – this is her story:
Florence’s mother passed away from breast cancer, and back then, cancer was not spoken about much. Florence had not even heard of bladder cancer until she was diagnosed with it in her 70s.
“One morning, I noticed blood in the toilet bowl, it was quite a shock to see,” Florence shared.
“I told my doctor about it, and he diagnosed me with a bladder infection. I was given antibiotics, and the blood cleared up. It happened again, and when my doctor was about to give me antibiotics for the third time, I remember telling him that I wasn’t experiencing any of the other typical symptoms of a bladder infection. It was at that moment that he showed more concern and decided to send me for further tests.” The tests led to a diagnosis of bladder cancer. Her doctor explained the options, and Florence made the brave decision to have her bladder removed. Florence recalls visiting the hospital during the three-week period before her surgery. There she spent time with an Enterostomal Therapy Nurse (“ET”) who was very helpful, explaining the procedure using a plaster model of a urostomy. Helpful videos were shown and advice given regarding pain management after the surgery.
“My family and I were considering the doctors to perform the surgery. We liked the idea of a young doctor performing the surgery,” Florence shared. Two surgeons cooperated to perform Florence’s extensive surgery.
After her surgery, Florence experienced a few minor complications and stayed in the hospital for 8 days, during which time the ET helped Florence to learn how to handle her new ostomy appliance. On the day she was to return home, she received some helpful resources from the staff. She was starting to put on her own appliance and learning to live with her new urostomy.
Living in Calgary, Florence was fortunate to be surrounded by a tight-knit ostomy community. Florence volunteered at a well-known ostomy camp for children, Ostomy Canada Youth Camp, where children with an ostomy would come from across Canada to attend camp, enjoy wonderful activities, and interact with other children facing a similar experience. Florence volunteered to pick up children at the airport, and drive them out to the camp, which is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Today Florence lives in a wonderful retirement community in Comox, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, where she has an incredible support system and team who support her. Her husband and family have always been helpful, and over the years, her husband helped to care for her and change her appliance when needed.
“In many ways, having a urostomy is quite convenient. If we’re out hiking in the woods, my friends are looking for a bathroom,” Florence shared with a laugh.
When asked about her thoughts on life, Florence had this to say: “I feel very fortunate. I’m alive – a urostomy does not hinder me. I have help when I need it, and I can go out and do the things that I like to do.”
“The ostomy was a learning experience, but I had help during the nearly thirty years. I’d like to encourage people facing this, not to be concerned, and that you can live your life.” Florence concluded.
Florence’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Her positive outlook and determination to live her life to the fullest is an inspiration to us all. We wish her many more years of good health and happiness.
