Committee
Brigitte SiefkenChair and membership
Clare MeeIA Together lead and One2One support volunteer
Rachel CarthyEvents and Committee member
Brigitte Siefken
Chair and membership
Hi, I’m Brigitte. I’m the Chair and membership contact for Notts and Derbyshire IA, and I also sit on the Internal Pouch Sub-committee of IA National.
My route to surgery was an unusual one. Out of the blue in October 2011, a chance conversation with a doctor led me down a path no-one expected. I had neither UC nor Crohns and was really healthy, so being told I needed colorectal surgery to prevent cancer appearing within 2 -20 years was devastating. Utterly floored, I found IA. The visitor chats changed my perspective and helped me as I waited for surgery – the first in April 2014 and the second in July 2016 when I went from my loop ileostomy to living with my j-pouch.
Between the two operations I joined my local IA committee, wanting to offer others the kindness and support I had been shown. It really matters to me that no-one is left feeling as isolated and clueless as I was initially. If I can ease the path of just a handful of others, I will have done my job.
Clare Mee
IA Together lead and One2One support volunteer
Hi, I am the IA Together rep, and website editor for the Notts & Derby branch of the IA. I am also the One2One support contact for Notts and Derbys IA.
My own stoma journey started on 3rd April 2016 with a Crohns colitis flare that wouldn’t settle with medical intervention. I have had Crohns colitis for many years so had hoped to improve with this flare, but it ended with me being very unwell and needing emergency surgery within a day of my surgeon seeing me. I also struggle with fistula disease and have had surgeries to try and heal, but to no avail but am glad to have my ileostomy as my overall health has improved. I found out about the Notts & Derby IA through a friend and now enjoy being an active part of the committee. Our group is a safe place to discuss anything stoma related and I am pleased to be a part of it. I know how isolated you can feel without a good support network.
Rachel Carthy
Events and Committee member
Hello I am Rachel
I have a permanent stoma ( Ileostomy) due to Crohn’s disease which I was diagnosed with in 2002, after just over a year of stomach pains, rushing to the loo and blood in my stool. I managed flare-ups with courses of various medications to get me through sixth form, university and work. After a particularly bad flare-up, where my large bowel had a lot of ulcers, inflammation and swelling, I needed surgery and had a loop ileostomy in 2015 before going on to make this permanent as part of a pan-proctocolectomy operation in 2017.
I have joined the committee as I want to show people that you can still have an amazing quality of life with a stoma. I welcomed our son into the world only after being off medication and having my stoma, and now live a really active life. I’m looking forward to helping to plan events where members can come along to socialise as well as getting information and support on living with a stoma.