CHARLOTTE COUNTY OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP
Website www.ccosg.org
A 501(C) (3)nonprofit organization (Tax deductible donations)
Officers
President: Jerry Downs 629-7568……… Email: fldowns@embarqmail.com
Vice President: Bonnie Coker: 423:8542 … Directors
Secretary: Lovelle Meester: 637-8167 Lorelie Godbout603-474 9063
Treasurer: Karen Chalfant: 623-0088 Joan Huber……941-575-8708
Committees
Newsletter : Gloria Patmore RNET (Retired) & Karen Chalfant
Programs and Education: Jerry Downs, Penny Maki RNET,CWS 205-2620
Gloria Patmore RNET (retired) Nancy Frank RN,BSN,CWOCN: 629-5118
Jill Lindsay RN,BSN,CWOCN 629-1181
Visitation: Penny Maki RNET CWS, Nancy Frank RN,BSN,CWOCN
Library: Karen Chalfant
Products: Bonnie Coker
Professional Advisors:
John P. Rioux MD, F.A.C.S. Penny Maki RNET,CWS, Jill Lindsay,RN,BSN,CWOCN
Nancy Frank RN,BSN,CWOCN
Next Meeting: September 13, 2016 2PM
South Port Square Gables East 2nd floor alcove
23023 Westchester Blvd, Port Charlotte
Program: Not yet firmed up.
Summer CCOSG Newsletter
I haven’t written a newsletter for you since we finished our season, and thought you might appreciate hearing about the May meeting, and some of the thoughts that I, a longtime volunteer for the Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group, would like to share with you. We had only 15 of us at this meeting.
Beth Peter was our speaker. She is the company rep for “Safe and Simple”, an ostomy company manufacturer. She brought samples of their products along with information on how to properly use them. Skin Barrier Arc can be used under your faceplate to provide a secure platform for your pouch, protecting the skin from trauma caused by repeated removal of tapes and adhesives. You can apply your wafer or tapes directly over the skin barrier arcs. Instructions for application is supplied with the product. They can also be used over the appliance to give you a waterproof seal around the wafer to secure the edges from lifting up, creasing, or loosening. Picture frame around the wafer using 1-3 arcs. Skin barrier arcs provide an excellent skin friendly alternative to waterproof tapes to give you a waterproof seal around the wafer when bathing or showering.
They also manufacture wipes that are larger, have no alcohol, and don’t sting on abraded or sore skin. They are cost effective being priced lower than the competition.
They also produce a lubricating deodorant.
The company is still small with 13 employees. The products have been introduced to the wound care professionals and have been well accepted. They will be expanding with more pouches, but are still limited to one piece pouches only, at this time.
Beth was comfortable at our meeting and even bought raffle tickets, and won the Publix gift certificate for $25. Since she doesn’t live locally it was a meant to be win since there are Publix stores where she does live.
Other winners of the raffle were Nancy Frank for $20 from Long Horn Steak House, Lynn Fortier for $20 from Red Lobster, and Gloria Patmore for 2 Subway sandwiches.
We also held elections and all your officers were reelected for another term.
This past week has been unusual weather. I don’t remember any week in the 32 summers that I have lived here, that we have had rainy days with rain showers throughout the day. An afternoon shower is common, but not a whole day of rain. We have had almost 10 inches of rain so far this month at the time of my writing (June 11th). For those of you now up north, be glad you are there.
I started thinking about the many wonderful members we have had in our group over the last 32 years. A real standout was Nellie Hepper who lived to 102 years of age. On her 100th birthday we surprised her with a birthday party on our meeting day. I quote from the article I wrote about her that was published in our Ostomy Quarterly, (now the “Phoenix”.)” This very special lady with the quick wit and ready smile is not only self-sufficient, but also cares for a severely retarded son, shops and cooks for her husband of over 70 years, and cares for her own colostomy which she had had for over ten years” at the time the article was written. When I told the group that Nellie did her own care she responded, “Doesn’t everybody? Sometimes it isn’t always a good job”. Her son was unable to even feed himself. He required complete care that Nellie and her younger husband (He was only 95 at the time.) provided. This included bathing and keeping him clean and free of bed sores. Her thoughts and love was always there for him. Her doctor (Dr Collado) made house calls and told me that the presence of the Lord was unmistakable when you entered their home. Dr Collado’s wife, Lola, even went into the home to clean for them. Nellie did well until her son passed away, and she herself then gave up at the age of 102. Having someone other than herself to care for was the unmistakable reason she survived so long. What also made a difference was she needed to stay active while giving him his care. LOVE! I can think of many other instances where love has given individuals the ability to survive!
I remember many other members that provided inspiration to us all. Jewell Mulder had her ileostomy at age 22, when not much was available in the way of equipment. Jewell helped through the years in many capacities, including “Visitation Chairman”. She had been secretary many times as well. She took advantage of updating her equipment through the years, willing to try what was new, and always looked beautiful. We all missed her when she moved to the other coast to live with her sister.
Another active member was Elaine Trott who was president for quite some time. Elaine, unlike Jewell, stuck with the same equipment that she felt most comfortable with. Hers was a heavy rubber pouch that could be re used many times. A reusable pouch is a big money saver. It does take more work to keep it odor free, but Elaine felt more confident with it. She too was very dedicated to our chapter.
And then along came Roger Wilson. Roger was a man no one could forget. He was determined to have ostomy care reach the level where care would be provided for all needing it; in or out of the hospital or in nursing homes. Roger worked hard for our group right up until his death. In his last weeks of life he, along with Fran, his wife, was teaching everyone in the South Port Square’s Skilled nursing facility how to care for an ileostomy. Roger was our president for many years, wrote letters to the Charlotte Sun, solicited for ads to raise money for our group, solicited for gift certificates for raffles, donated money to our group, furthered lists of sponsors and doctors and got help to produce an on line version of the newsletter. Our By-Laws were written by a family member of his. Much of what we use as guidelines were furthered by his efforts.
Many of our members actively involved in our meetings give much of themselves. Caring for others is natural for them. Have you noticed how you are greeted every meeting by Karen Chalfant? She is there an hour early to put up the signs that guide you to our meeting room, and is all set to help with the raffle ticket sales, and name tags and attendance sheets. She is also our treasurer. Her shoes would be hard to fill. She is an active visitor, willing to help an ostomates when called on.
I haven’t mentioned our President, Jerry. When I talked about love being so important to survival, I think of Jerry and his wife Linda. She is right in there working to help him with whatever he needs, including his duties as our president. She is often the one who sends out the newsletter on line. But much more important has been her constant companionship as she goes with him for his cancer follow ups and the care he needs. They have a strong belief in God and prayer aiding in survival.
Penny Maki RNET has done much through the years to educate nurses, plan programs, and be on hand to provide whatever help has been needed. Nancy Frank, RN,BSN,WOCN, has also been actively involved along with Jill Lindsay,RN.BSN.WOCN.
We have had many more ostomates who gave their all to the organization through the years. It is because of this that we still have a strong support group for our community. South Port Square has been supporting our group for many years now. Our meeting room and refreshments are being supplied by them. A big thank you is owed for all they do for us. We do have several that have taken up residence there. It is not only a great place to visit, it is a great place to live.
UOAA sends out articles to share. The following were in their April 2016 issue:
Ostomy A to Z: Used with permission from Brenda Elsangher from “I’d like to but a bowel please:
Ode to a filter:
I like your style, you’re so discreet.
With your job well done, I still smell sweet.
Bring on the onions, the sodas, the beans’ I’m no longer worried about causing a scene.
In planes, at games, home, and at work,
Flatulence dissipates, oh, what a perk,
Thank you filter makers, you’ve made my day,
I go through life a much happier way.
Old Joke
It’s not so bad having a colostomy. I just can’t find shoes to match my bag.
