Baltimore Ostomy Association, Inc.

Message from our new President

Hello,

I would like to thank you for choosing me to steer the BOA. I’d like to implement the idea that to “GET INVOLVED” means growth for the BOA.

Just a few short lines about myself:

I am a cancer survivor. I had ulcerative colitis for 20 years. I had a colonoscopy every 2 years. It developed into cancer and I had an ileostomy on 7/14/04. I am a sign painter for a family-owned company here in Baltimore. I have been working there for 34 years. We do high-quality work for blue-chip companies. My wife, Tillie, and I have been married 20+ years.

I am very thankful for the knowledge that mankind has developed to be able to do what he can do.

Because my wife works in the medical library at the hospital where I received my surgery, she had access to information and the nurses that most other ostomates and their families would not have. Since that time, we have learned that some hospitals do not have ostomy nurses and most home care nursing agencies do not have nurses who are trained in ostomy care. Because of this, Tillie and I are making it our goal to get the information out to the agencies, hospitals, medical offices, etc. who come in contact with potential ostomates as well as new ostomates, so it will be easier for them to find help/information when they need it.

I want to pass on/educate that knowledge to anyone/everyone I can, using the BOA as a way of doing so and also to help support those in need of information.

I have a few ideas (some good ones, I think), as you will hear at the December meeting, so come find out what they are and “GET INVOLVED”.

p.s. Since the last BOA meeting, in September, I’ve been to a WOCN meeting (Greater Baltimore) and an ostomy support group meeting in Northern Virginia to look and learn about what is going on elsewhere.