By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A PERSON who has an ostomy knows that without vital supplies, they will not have the quality of life they wish or the ability to live as freely as they want.

There are hundreds of Bahamians today who are living with an ostomy – a surgically created opening from an internal organ, such as the intestine, to an external point on the body, usually in the abdomen. The three types of ostomies are colostomy, urostomy and ileostomy.

People with an ostomy use a heavy duty plastic pouch worn outside the body that is attached to the stomach. It serves the purpose of collecting urine and stools.

Without much needed ostomy supplies many people are limited in their daily activities.

The Megan Louise Sands (MLS) Ostomy Foundation seeks to lift the burden off financially challenged ostomates and improve their lives to some extent with the launch of its patient assistance programme.

The programme will enable ostomates to obtain a temporary supply of essential items including pouches, wafers, skin prep wipes, remover wipes and paste.

“The programme is for persons who are uninsured and are financially unable to afford vital supplies. There is not much financial assistance offered to ostomy patients, but we are hoping
that the programme will also generate awareness of the needs ostomy patients have and the financial struggle for some. It costs on average $2,100 per year for supplies. With our budget this year we are able to provide ten ostomates with a year’s worth of supplies and 16 ostomates with three months of supplies. There are hundreds of ostomates in the Bahamas, some permanent and some temporary, so there is still a lot more that needs to be done,” said Megan Sands, the foundation’s founder who also has an ostomy.

In 2006, Megan suffered serious injuries after being in a jet-ski accident which resulted in her having to undergo a colostomy. She started the foundation to raise funds for those individuals who are living with an ostomy and are economically disadvantaged and require both financial and emotional support.

“We have raised over $40,000 so far this year with the 5K Fun Run/Walk event in May and from donations. We continue to accept donations, but are working with a $35,000 budget for the first year of the programme. Ten ostomates can apply for a year’s worth of supplies and 16 ostomates can apply for three months of supplies – depending on their needs is how we worked the $35,000 budget. We will continue to accept donations to go towards the start of the programme next September (2015) and for any other fundraising events. We are planning on having a support group/networking event in October to get patients together to meet others for support and also have speakers – doctors, nurses, etc to talk about issues relating to ostomies,” she told Tribune Health.
On Ostomy Awareness Day, which is observed on October 4, the foundation has a number of activities planned to create awareness.

“We are doing this without government assistance. We hope to raise awareness so that the government and others can realise the importance of each patient’s needs,” she said.

Megan also teamed up with Nurse Dawn Albury-Gaitor, the first Bahamian wound ostomy and continence nurse. She operates an out-patient clinic called Island Ostomy Wound Treatment Centre.

Persons can register for the patient assistance programme by contacting Island Ostomy and making an appointment for an assessment.

“No one should have to live without the necessary supplies in order to feel comfortable and confident in their daily living. We want to support ostomates throughout the length and breadth of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to live their lives without limitations,” she said.

• Programme criteria

To be eligible, individuals are required to submit a request for aid form; they must be referred from physician or ostomy nurse, provide a copy of a picture ID and complete a needs assessment evaluation.

If approved, patients will be eligible to receive their ostomy supplies for a period of three months to one year on a monthly rotation.

Those wishing to receive assistance are invited to contact the Megan Louise Sands Ostomy Foundation, PO Box SS-6668, Nassau, Bahamas, or call 359-0020, fax 393-6114 or e-mail mlsostomyfoundation@gmail.com.