I made a thank you card for my surgeon. My daughter thought it hilarious. Maybe you'll get a laugh too. The inside message is this

"Thanks for giving me my life back. Now I can be 'mom' again and not 'queen of the toilet' Thanks for the good work you do."

I had UC for most of my five year olds life. Diagnosed when she was 2. All she's ever known of me is having eating problems and toilet issues and as it progressed it got where I couldn't eat anything or I'd be on the toilet...and at the end would even mess my own pants on a fairly regular basis. So now we can spend time together for a change. It still hurts for different reasons (surgery is new) but I can do stuff with her while I'm not in the bathroom. Thats where we used to read books and do her hair and stuff...cause thats where I HAD to be.

Funny!

My kids were young too when I was diagnosed and it's so nice to be able spend QUALITY time with them now. The really bad thing about any chronic illness is that not only do you suffer, but your family suffers along with you.

I'm so grateful that there was a surgery to "fix" me. I am so happy to have my life back!

My Grandson had my bag explode all over him when I got back from the hospital..not fun...(hubby pulled out the mop and bucket and cleaned both kid and floor) I ran and hid in the bathroom and wouldn't come out...from then on the kids stopped hugging me (they were pouch hight!)...took a while to re-teach them to hug me...They kept asking if my tummy still hurt me...they are used to my not eating though...the whole family is...life, I must say is a challenge...
Sharon

Oh yuck Sharon! Poor thing! WOW...

My girl wouldn't touch me...I mean she was sooo consciencious that I had just had "major surgery" that she was afraid of hurting me.

It is a blessing and a half to have my life back. To some degree. I still get crabby due to pain issues but at least I don't spend all my free time and then some in the bathroom...

Back in 2000 when I had my first big pouch revision I had programmed a 'family vacation' here in France with my best friend's family (from Canada)...her 2nd son was, to say the least, a challenge and I ended up wrestling him to the floor after he had run away and then tried to jump out the window...I had to hold him down for 1/2hr till he calmed down...And I ended up splitting my mainline scar...11 yrs later he is still traumatised that he caused me to split and feels guilty over hurting me (he has since grown up into a lovely young man studying to be a teacher!) Our disease has far reaching effects on all of our families...
Sharon

oh indeed. So many worry. My mom NEVER crys and I got so sick prior to my surgery that she thought I was dying and she did cry which made me feel terrible. But hey--you sure finds out who will be there for you!