UOAA’S LATEST NEWS

Squid Game: The Challenge Contestant Embraces Life with an Ostomy

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Squide Game The Challenge contestant with an ostomy: My ileostomy and how it gave me the confidence to participate in such a wild adventure! If I was still dealing with UC, I would’ve never trusted my body to take on something this challenging and stressful!  My ileostomy has restored my health, my energy, and my control and I’m incredibly grateful for it! 

Catherine’s Story

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A long journey to an ostomy leads to a supportive community I have suffered with digestive issues since I was a teen and the first symptoms I remember were back in high school. I was a very shy, insecure young lady throughout high school…

MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A CERTIFIED OSTOMY NURSE

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UOAA is excited to announce that the 2025 recipient of the Educational Award for Ostomy Nurse Certification is Erin Young from California! Below Erin shares a little bit about herself and her motivation to become a certified ostomy nurse. I…

UOAA Advocates Bring Patient Voices to Capitol Hill

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By Jeanine Gleba, UOAA Advocacy Manager Despite the government shutdown, United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) successfully hosted Patient Voices on the Hill Day on October 8th. UOAA advocates from across the country—strategically…

Celebrate World Ostomy Day with UOAA!

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By Jeanine Gleba, UOAA Advocacy Manager and Ed Pfueller, UOAA Communications and Outreach Manager Each year United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) celebrates Ostomy Awareness Day in the United States on the first Saturday of October.…
Photo of World Ostomy Day Champion Keely Cat-Wells a white woman with blond hair and a blue dress speaking at a professional conference.

World Ostomy Day Champion Keely Cat-Wells is a Leader in Breaking Down Barriers

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Keely Cat-Wells is approaching the 10th anniversary of her ileostomy surgery. Before the surgery at 17, Keely endured years of misdiagnoses, experimental procedures, and was incorrectly told her pain was imagined. She was forced to leave…

Finding Your Way: The Journey Forward with an Ostomy

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By Ted Leamy This piece is adapted from my closing talk at the 2025 UOAA Conference held in Orlando Florida. Think of it as a last walk around the conference neighborhood before we all went home — with a few of my own observations. I'm…

DENISE: LIVING WITH SHORT BOWEL SYNDROME

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For most of my life, I measured the time it would take me to make it safely to the bathroom. If the bathroom dash was an Olympic event, I’d have won a gold medal! I often use humor when I talk about my condition, short bowel syndrome (SBS).…
Anne Marra

Resilience Story: Matt Marra

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A couple years ago, I wasn’t thinking much about my health. I was a little overweight, but nothing alarming. Life was busy working full-time while chasing around two wild but wonderful kids under five. Then in November 2023, everything…

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