Photo by Ari Summerfield

Who We Are

We are a non-profit, volunteer group that supports, empowers, and advocates for people who have had or will have ostomy or continent diversion surgery.

Each month, we meet to discuss living and thriving with an ostomy in a confidential, warm environment where you can just listen, ask questions, or share your experiences with others who can relate, and reassure you that you are not alone in this journey. We try to have a WOCN on hand to offer a medical-based opinion when needed. If you are a new ostomate, are considering surgery, are a long-time ostomate, or are caring for someone with an ostomy, we welcome you to join and share, or just listen and learn. If you are struggling with acceptance, please know you are not alone.

There are no dues to join our group, but we gladly accept donations (see below). We also accept ostomy supply donations which are donated to Friends of Ostomates Worldwide. You can bring supply donations to a meeting or to the Byram Healthcare building (see address below) Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Meetings/Events:

Click here to see a detailed list of our upcoming meetings/events: Upcoming Events – Ostomy Support Group of DuPage County

Meetings: We meet the 4^th Wednesday of each month at 6 pm Central time (except for December, when we have a holiday party on a different day, and sometimes we skip our November meeting due to Thanksgiving).

We meet at the Byram Healthcare Building:
3010 Woodcreek Drive, Suite A
Downers Grove, IL 60515 (see map)

We also simulcast via Zoom (the link is posted in our monthly newsletter and on our Facebook page).

Annual Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k: Since 2018, we have hosted this 5k fundraiser. In 2024, our run/walk became an official UOAA race site. The event not only raises funds for the UOAA, but it brings our ostomy community together for a fun, social, and healthy morning!

Photo by Ari Summerfield

Newsletter

Our monthly newsletter, The Newsleak, is emailed out for free. It includes information about our next meeting, inspiring and educational articles, and resources. If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email Barbara Tischler at owner@thecluttercoach.com.

Contacts

Bret Cromer, President and 5k Co-Race Director
630-479-3101 (cell)
bret.cromer@gmail.com

Barbara Tischler, Treasurer, Email Administrator, Facebook Page Administrator, and 5k Co-Race Director
630-221-0014 (landline)
owner@thecluttercoach.com

Support Group Email: dupageostomy@gmail.com

Social Media:

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OstomySupportGroupofDuPageCounty

Donations

We raise funds every year to pay for the expenses for at least one camper to attend Youth Rally; to make monetary contributions to Friends of Ostomates Worldwide, Kindred Box, and the Certified Ostomy Care Nurse Scholarship Fund; to pay our annual UOAA membership fee; to cover some of our 5k expenses; and to pay for other miscellaneous expenses.

We accept these methods of payment at meetings/events, by mail, and via electronic methods. Contact Barbara Tischler at owner@thecluttercoach.com for the address to mail checks.

We also receive a portion of the proceeds from sales of these fun, ostomy pride buttons.