Well, for those who remember my post from a couple of months ago, we had our "Colonfest 2007" party yesterday to celebrate the completion of all the surgeries and my newfound health. We had it at my mom's house; just a barbeque with swimming, music, etc. About 50 of my friends and family were there, including some that came all the way from Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Virginia. It was a fantastic day. The weather was great, everyone had a blast, and the vibe was just great. It was an amazing feeling to know that all these people were there with me, just as happy as I am that I'm alive and finally well. I made a brief thank-you speech to everyone for their efforts during all the recoveries, particularly the long recovery after the obstruction surgery that went so bad. So many people pitched in to help out....of course, despite my preparations in advance, I completely lost it during the speech and broke down in front of everyone, but I think the general message was conveyed. We partied for over 12 hours...it was simply the greatest day of my life. I will post some pictures here as soon as I get them. Have to send some to the surgeon too, so he can see that I'm not the only one who appreciates all his efforts!
So I thought this might be a good question to post, since there are so many that seem to be noting right now that a lot of the posts here are about problems we're having. Being that this is a support site, that would be the general nature of things, but I want to know what everyone else's best days were since their surgeries. Post them here so others who are feeling a bit low can take comfort in the fact that there are great things that happen to us after such lengthy suffering. I know I will remember yesterday for the rest of my life.

Dear Michelle,

EXCELLENT post! Thanks for sharing it. I agree with you: we need to share our good days, to cheer on those who may be having bad times, and to reinforce, for the rest of us, that this WAS a good thing to do!

The best day of my life so far? Swimming in a beautiful northern Michigan lake over the past two weeks with my five-year-old, and not worrying about having to run in to the cottage to use the bathroom!

(And I haven't even had my takedown yet. I'm still an ostomate!)

Let's hear from some more happy people!

Very cool Michelle! Thanks for sharing the joy, I could feel it in the post. Okay, Mark is one who has had the surgery to be free of UC, but I wanted to share my best day I have had in a LONG time.

Like all of you, we have had a long journey to get to the surgery, and there were times that were not so easy (to say the least). On the night right after his surgery, he was awake for about 3 hours, still loopy by not out of his head by any means. He had a private room, and his nurse that night was like a dream, she was so quiet and gentle, the hospital was quiet for nighttime, all the family was gone, and it was just him and me, and that night it was like the past 7 years of UC were gone and we began to heal. All he wanted was to be touched gently, he wanted his feet, legs, arms, head, shoulders rubbed. And together that night we checked out his belly, the incisions, the stoma. It was just a very gentle and healing night that really set the stage for us to embark on our new life. I was so exhausted from the day, and now that it was over, there was sense of calm that felt almost surreal, I've not felt that before. It was really magical and by far the best day I have had in long time.

Sorry to be so sappy, but Michelle asked!
Megan (aka Mark's partner of 13 years)

Wow Michelle! 50 friends and family! I'd be hard pressed to gather five friends.. LOL But, you are a lot prettier than I

Great post! Yeah, I'd probably break down too, I get emotional when I reflect upon how far I've come.

I'll have to think that question over... what was my best day yet since regaining my health.
I can't really pin it down to one day, but overall it seems that life just keeps getting better and better and better. My confidence has skyrocketed along with my new-found health. Life is far better than I could have ever imagined it.

Johnny

Michelle!!!

Well good for you for crying at your own Colonfest! There probably wasn't a dry eye when that happened. So they were all crying too.

Did you show pics of the little booger? I can't wait to see Colonfest photos.

kathy

You guys are amazing. Michelle, you inspire me. I posted the other day that my take-down is tomorrow, and I'm very scared. I read your reply. You all give me such hope. For a doctor to tell me that "I need to be positive" frankly doesnt work for me. But, hearing about your celebration, and all the others-gives me hope that maybe some day I will have my life back again too! It's just so hard to see when your in the middle of it.

Congratulations on your party. I'm so glad it was such a wonderful celebration of your new life. I'm hoping that a trip to Los Cabos with my husband at the end of October will be my new begining. Here's hoping!

My best day was last Monday, July 16th, when I woke up from step 3 of 3.

No, it wasn't because I didn't have the bag anymore - I actually didn't mind that too much.

It was because I was finally going to be Lisa again. I could go back to being a healthy wife, fun friend, supportive family member...all without the shadow of surgery hanging over my head. Now, it won't be about "me" anymore..."how is Lisa doing", "how are you feeling", "how long until the next surgery" - all of the attention, while great, just kept bringing to mind this disease I had worked so hard to beat for so many years.

And now, while I can't say that I'll be healthy forever, or that another surgery might not be required one day far down the road, I can say that I'm never looking back and questioning any of the decisions I've made.

One week post-takedown and I'm a new person. I hope the same for each and every person that has this surgery, whether successful or not. Just make the best with what you've got and go on living your life the best you can.

Glad your party went so well, sounds like you had a blast. My best day since my surgeries last year was 10 weeks ago.......giving birth to my little boy.

Two memories stick out to me:

My daughter was 2 (almost 3) when I first went into the hospital in 2006. When I got home, we had to explain to her that I couldn't pick her up for a while. She learned to be patient and to climb up on things on her own, to be content just to sit next to me. And she learned to be careful around my stoma (which she LOVED, by the way). But through the 3 subsequent surgeries, she continually held out my ability to pick her up as a yardstick for my recovery. So the day I was able to tell her that I could pick her up and carry her - seeing the joy in her eyes - was my best day ever.

I also had joy all by myself the day I went to the gym and changed to go swimming in the men's locker room again. We have family locker rooms that I used during my time with the ostomy - and to be able to use the 'manly' locker room was a milestone for me.

Congratulations Michelle! How wonderful to have such support and that you are feeling so well.

Megan, I just read your post and it brought tears to my eyes! That has to be one of the most unselfish things I've heard in a long time. Your most wonderful day was not about you but about your hubby. How touching. And I mean that with great sincerity.

My happiest day was after step 1 of 3. I remember what a great feeling it was to be able to take care of my then 2 year old son and not have to put him aside to run to the bathroom. There were so many times when he was an infant where I literral "dropped" him in his carrier to run in the house and "not" make it to the bathroom.

Thanks for sharing and for bringing a positive thought to everyones mind.

DeAnna

I'm so happy for you, thank goodness for friends and family.

Sarah

What a wonderful and inspirational thread. Congrats on your wonderful Colonfest. What a great way to celebrate saying goodbye to being sick and returning to being healthy.

Like many others here, my UC eventually lead to Toxic Mega Colon and I had an emergency colectomy. I remember being so calm going into surgery because I knew that one way or another, the pain and misery were going to be over. When they brought me back to my room, I was in so much pain that I couldn't even open my eyes. I remember my husband pressing his face against mine, feeling his unshaven face, smelling his scent, and hearing his voice. He promised me that he would spend every day of the rest of his life trying to make me happy, and he has. Ten years later, we have a son, seven months old today, that looks just like him. I hope he turns out to be just like his dad.

I don't know if it was one of my best days, but on the weekend I went bowling with a friend. We used to go all the time but it sort of fell by the wayside with all the illness and surgery issues. It was so nice just to go out, have fun, and not constantly worrying about how I felt. I look forward to many more days like that.

I thought about your "colonfest" over the weekend and hoped you were having a good time Michelle, it was such a wonderful idea! I would have to say that the best days would be the last 48 hours. My surgery path was very short and intense. I had step 1 5-7-07 (on my b-day...) and step 2 6-5-07 due to an obstruction. I barely healed from the first surgery and they were hauling me in for the second! Therefore, I have been off of work since May 7, but only really home for the last 6 weeks. So yesterday, my husband and I went out and bought all the new stuff I needed to re-pot all my overgrown plants. I spent the day in the backyard with dirty hands, and it was great! Then today, I got to go back to work! I know that sounds funny, but being a nurse is a huge part of who I am. It felt so good to be able to help other people once again. Even though I only worked a 4 hour shift, I'm beginning to feel "normal" again, and it has been so long! I hope others who felt as bad as we all did at one time read these posts and see that the light at the end of the tunnel has not gone out, but is actually brighter than it was before.

I love your idea Michelle...not only the colonfest party, but asking people to post their happiest moments...

I can tell you that as a 17 year poucher, I have had many, and you all will too~ I hope you have too many to remember even though, right now that sounds impossible. I remember being in and out of the hospital for an entire year, and just praying that one day I could be normal again...My colon perfed, i had the ileostomy for 9 months because I was so sick, but I am so happy I did it. ...I can tell you that this disease has changed me forever and many of the blessings I now have in my life, and I can't believe I'm saying this, would not have happened if not for this disease.

For example...after my 3rd surgery I went to Graduate school and became a medical social worker and worked for 5 years exclusively with people on the colo-rectal surgery service. I am now in my own private practice and have gone back for post graduate training in psychotherapy because I wanted to broaden my practice, but this was my calling and I never would have known.

Secondly, we went through 3 failed IVF's and I thought I would never have a second child (my 12 yo son was conceived after 18 months of treatment due to entrapped ovary syndrom from my pouch surgery). The failed IVF's were as devastating to me as my surgeries, but then we adopted our daughter at one day old and she is now almost 6 yo and the most amazing gift ever...

So....I say to you all who are in the worst of this....one day you too be better...i will always have a chronic healthy issue, but at age 40, it seems like everyone has something, and this is mine, and I am blessed in many ways...
I am happy to be a resource for those that want a long term perspective....

lots a love,
SF