03/10/2026
💚 Stoma Awareness Day 💚
Today is Stoma Awareness Day, and I wanted to share something close to my heart.
Having a stoma can mean something completely different to every person who has one. The reasons we have them are different, our journeys are different, and most importantly, our feelings about them are different too.
Some people proudly show their stomas, decorate them and celebrate them — and that is amazing. But not everyone feels that way.
My daughter Poppy has had her stoma since she was little. She doesn't like showing it off, and sometimes she hates it completely. And that's okay. ❤️
Having a stoma doesn't mean you have to love it every day. It doesn't mean you have to show it to anyone. It doesn't mean you have to call yourself a "warrior" or feel grateful for what you've been through.
Sometimes it's simply something your body needs to survive, and learning to live with it can be incredibly difficult.
But whatever your feelings, please remember this:
Your stoma does not make you less beautiful.
It does not make you less worthy.
It does not make you different in a bad way.
And it certainly does not define who you are.
Our bodies go through things we never expected, and sometimes they carry scars, bags, tubes and reminders of battles that nobody else can see.
So today, whether you proudly show your stoma, keep it private, love it, hate it, or simply accept it one day at a time…
Be proud of yourself. Be kind to your body. And remember how far you've come. 💚
Happy Stoma Awareness Day to everyone living with a stoma, and to the families supporting them. You are all doing brilliantly. 🫶🏻