President's Message

We had an excellent meeting with Dr Allison McGeer, a Microbiologist, and Infectious Disease Consultant in the Department of Microbiology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto.   She spoke for well over an hour and a half and kept us fascinated with the information that she presented about the impact of antimicrobial resistant organisms on patients, and the work that is being done in hospitals and research labs to better protect patients. Dr McGeer's presentation was very relaxed and she answered questions as she proceeded with her presentation. Such was the interest that at 9:30 PM I stepped in to end questions and at 10:00 PM, Dr McGeer was still answering questions. A most interesting evening indeed.

With the golf tournament coming up on the 2nd June, we are very busy with final arrangements. We are hoping that we will have a turn out of at least sixty golfers and that we will be successful in raising funds so that we can continue to offer our services to ostomates in the Greater Toronto area. We will let you know how successful we have been at our Thursday meeting on 17 June. This will be the last meeting for this Ostomy Year and as you know we always have the manufacturers  - those who make the Ostomy appliances that play such an important part in our lives.  Where would we be without good Ostomy appliances that we can trust?

As the warmer weather is here, please make sure that you keep up your liquid intake.  This is the problem I have. I dehydrate very quickly and as we all know there can be real problems with dehydration. Keep your electrolytes in balance and watch out for that sun.  If you swim everyday, or are golfing and perspiring a lot, remember that your appliance may not last as long as in cooler weather.

The World Council of Enterostomal Therapists ( WCET ) holds a conference every two years. This year a joint conference is being held with the US the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) in June. Why am I telling you this?   I know that you will be most interested to hear that our Dianne Garde is receiving a special award. Dianne has been the administrative assistant of WCET for a number of years and her work and dedication is being recognized at this conference. Dianne is being made a Life Member of WCET and will join a group of distinguished nurses.

The criteria for a Life Membership is:

A WCET Life Member shall be a person who has shown distinction and eminence in his/her contributions to the field of enterostomal therapy nursing.

Recommendation for WCET Life membership can be made by any person from within the WCET membership to the WCET Executive Board for approval.

I understand that the recommendation came from the WCET Executive Board.

This is a very special honour for Dianne and we send her our congratulations. We think the world of her in Ostomy Toronto and we look forward to having her continue to work with us.

More excitement and congratulations, this time to Canadian Rob Hill and his team who made it to the summit of Mount Everest on May 24th. They made their exciting climb via the South Col route pioneered by Hillary and Tenzing more than 50 years ago.  You can follow their climb through their blog http://nogutsknowglory.com/

"Rob, Darrell and John slept very soundly in camp four after their monster summit efforts yesterday. They left C4 at 8:00 AM Everest time and are moving down the fixed lines between camps four and two. They'll stop in two for a rest, to eat and to evaluate energy levels. It's very likely that camp two will be their destination today, and that they will finish the descent to base camp tomorrow.

The weather looks stable: light winds and the cloud level is very high. They should have an uneventful descent today. All team members are in good spirits, though naturally tired. They'll be moving cautiously, focused on safety."

"Through his role as Global Ambassador to the Great Comebacks Program and his own Intestinal Diseases Education and Awareness Society (IDEAS), Rob is a living example that ostomy is not about removing an internal organ as much as it is about second chances and the opportunity to pursue your dreams. 

Today, Rob continues to break down barriers for people living with intestinal diseases, letting them know that "it's okay to talk about these conditions and not something to hide behind."   This year, through his role with the Great Comebacks Program , Rob will be traveling to speak with patients about his experiences and encouraging them to get out and conquer their own personal summits.

Small Steps, Giant Strides toward IBD Awareness Rob began his No Guts-Know Glory! quest in 2002 and has now scaled all Seven Summits:

1. June 2002, Mt. Elbrus, 18, 481 feet (5, 633m), Russia/Georgia, Europe

2. October 2003, Mt. Kilimanjaro, 19, 339 feet (5, 963m), Tanzania, Africa

3. January 2004, Aconcagua, 22, 840 feet (6, 962m), Argentina, South America

4. June 2005, Denali/Mt. McKinley, 20, 320 feet (5, 895m), Alaska, U.S.A., North America

5. January 2006, Vinson Massif, 16, 067 feet (4, 897m), Antarctica

6. April 2007, Carstensz Pyramid, 16, 023 feet (4, 884m), Indonesia, Oceania

7. May 2010, Mount Everest, 29, 053 feet (8, 850m), on the boarder of Nepal and Tibet, Asia

What a tremendous achievement and what an inspiration to our young people - indeed to us all. As we approach our summer, let's follow Rob's example - no, not to climb Everest - but to get in some exercise to keep us all fit.

I look forward to being with you at the June meeting. Until then, take good care and my wish as always, is that you stay in good health.  

 

 

Di 

Dielwen Bracken