Through community comes strengthAura Flushable user, Nancy, loves to be social and has found that social media is especially useful for getting involved with the ostomate community. “Before I started using Facebook, I tended to feel like I was the only one with a stoma pouch, but once I got online I could see other people on there and I felt like part of something.”

Freedom matters to everybodyFor some people, having a holiday away from home is important. For others, it could be the ability to pop to the local shops, or simply visiting friends and neighbours without any worry.It might mean different things to different people, but whether you have a stoma or not, a sense of freedom to be yourself matters to everybody. Each of our storytellers are all very different, with different lives, personalities and interests.

Confidence can come back!We understand that taking centre stage and appearing in an online video requires a lot of confidence – but not all of those who were filmed have always felt confident about having a stoma. Vicki told us, “It was absolutely dreadful, it was a terrible shock. I just wasn’t prepared to have a colostomy.” Each person deals with their experience of having a stoma differently and confidence comes and goes and grows at different paces, in different people. Living with a stoma can also be a physically tough and emotional journey, but through the experiences and support of others shared on this site, we hope you might find some support and inspiration to find your own sense of freedom.

A big thank you from us

On behalf of everyone at CliniMed and SecuriCare, we would like to say a huge thank you to our contributors and their families who allowed us into their lives to share their story and create this project. We are extremely grateful to everyone.

Do you want the freedom to never carry a used pouch again?

To receive your free sample of Aura Flushable:• Visit the CliniMed website here• Email info@clinimed.co.uk• Call Freephone 0808 273 2234