OSTOmysecrets

OSTOmysecrets ®
LIFE & STYLE GUIDE
Learn more about OSTOmysecrets at
OSTOmysecrets.com
JULY/AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2013
FROM THE FOUNDER
Happy Summer to All!
Happy Summer to all! I trust your summer is
going well and that you are in full swing of all your
activities. Summer is the perfect excuse to take a
little break while throwing in some pool, beach or
barbecue time. I hope you are taking advantage
of good weather and having a great sunny season!
Likewise, it’s been another busy summer here for us
at Ostomysecrets. We had the privilege of revealing
our new brand identity and booth design at the 45th
Annual Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing
(WOCN®) Conference in late June in Seattle. As
always, it was great to see all of our ostomy nurse
friends, make new ones and share with everyone all
of our established and new products.
Speaking of, our new products line continues to
grow. We just introduced the Men’s Swim Board
Short and the Women’s Polka Dot Swim Bottom.
More details on the following pages. As always, it
is our sincere hope that you will try a new product,
love it and be hooked for life!
Not only are we introducing new products, but we
have a new fashion designer we’d like to introduce
to you as well! Our previous designer, Tien Nyguen,
is moving on to pursue another endeavor. We have
loved working with her and wish her only the best of
the best! Keep reading to meet our new designer Uli
Beator. We are confident you will get the idea that
not only is Uli a fun and interesting gal, but she is
an amazing fashion forward designer with a pulse on
what’s new and hip.
There’s a lot going on and we are so grateful for all
of it. Additionally, all of us at Ostomysecrets are
indebted to our stomas for our restored health! We
walk forward every day, thankful for a surgery that
reestablished our lives.
Until next time, be encouraged.
Lisa
TIPS FOR LIVING WITH AN OSTOMY
Uli Beator- Bringing You Style & Functionality
It is the Ostomysecrets’ team sincere honor to introduce our new
clothing designer, Uli Beator.
Originally from Germany, Uli, the child of a fashion family, has been
in the United States for 25 years. She has always worked in the
garment industry, with a large part of her work being in the lingerie
field. She loves attention to detail and is excited about how she
can make Ostomysecrets’ products interesting and new for every
season.
“The thought of working with such a growing and client specific
company truly energizes me. The ostomy market is a small
TIPS FOR LIVING WITH AN OSTOMY continued...
landscape, which makes it a fun kind of design challenge. I love the fact that members of the team have an
ostomy and are part of the process. I am looking forward to digging deeper into products that are already
helping so many people.”
Uli’s experience also includes designing performance and active wear clothing. She is looking forward to bringing
this aspect into the Ostomysecrets design palette as she formulates new designs for new products. Having
worked in everything from production to ordering to sourcing to pattern making and design, Uli is a wellrounded designer who is sure to keep her thumb on what is current and fun and translate that to Ostomysecrets
products. We are excited to see what she comes up with!
CRICKET’S CORNER
Spotlight on Walter Brilhart 2012 Great Comebacks®
National Award Recipient
Part of the fun of the WOCN® Conference is
attending the always wonderful, ever inspiring Great
Comebacks® National Award ceremony. Great
Comebacks® was started nearly 30 years ago by
San Diego Charger placekicker Rolf Benirschke
after his ostomy surgery. Feeling his life and career
were over, nothing could have been further from
the truth. With support and encouragement from
friends, family and medical personnel, Rolf realized
within his experience there was a story to be told.
Great Comebacks was born and now 30 years later,
so many people have shared their stories in an
effort to encourage, support, and direct others who
have undergone ostomy surgery.
Each year people with an ostomy from all over the
country submit stories to the Great Comebacks
board who then chooses a recipient from each
region. At the National Award ceremony the nurses
are all treated to a delicious dinner in a beautiful
banquet hall while they meet the four finalists and wait impatiently to hear who will be chosen as the National
Award Recipient. It is an evening filled usually with lots of tears, smiles and ultimately feelings of triumph
and pride.
This year was especially fun for me because for the first time my family got to attend! For the past years I
have been telling my husband how terrific the ceremonies are, how amazing everyone’s stories are and just
what a blessing the evening is for all who are present. This year was no different.
The four regional winners, Jacob Gottlileb, Meghan Hultman, Bo Parrish and Walt Brilhart each have unique
and encouraging stories. In addition to excellent videos about each recipient, Joanna Joy Burgess, the 2011
Great Comebacks National Winner, interviewed each person on stage, in a sort of Barbara Walters style. It
was really special to hear each of their stories from their own perspective and to see their personalities shine.
There were moments of laughter and tenderness coupled with a sense of camaraderie while rooting for each
of them in their journey.
When Rolf took the stage to announce the winner, the tension was palpable. How can only one of them
be chosen? Each of them is a winner in their own comeback. But part of the program is picking a national
recipient so when Walter Brilhart’s name was revealed, the room erupted and eyes got misty, again!
It was obvious when Walt took the stage that he really didn’t think he was going to be chosen. A man of
great wit and humor, he had the room laughing as he accepted the award and was honored by the entire
audience.
CRICKET’S CORNER continued...
Not only were the recipients commended, but each of them had special WOC Nurses who had really helped
them in their journey. Each of those nurses was honored as well which rounded out the evening as a highlight
of the week.
When I asked my family what they thought of the event, my husband and my 20 year old daughter were very
touched. My husband especially so because he has walked every step of my journey with Crohn’s, ostomy
surgery and Ostomysecrets. I can humbly say he is proud of my “great comeback”. My compassionate
daughter is proud as well, and as a young lady she sees firsthand every day the life of a person with an
ostomy. My son, who is turning 15 this month, summed up in his journal his Great Comebacks experience
like this: “Tonight we went to Great Comebacks, which was mostly boring with a joke here and there.” Maybe
one day he will get it! But I would have to say for the rest of us, it was a great evening. Totally inspiring.
Totally encouraging. Totally an event to make the heart glad. I can’t wait until next year!
After the Great Comebacks Award ceremony excitement had settled down, we caught up with this year’s
winner, sixty-four year old Walt Brilhart, to dig deeper into how he felt about winning. This is what he had to
say:
“There was this movie entitled “Sleepless in Seattle”. I on the other hand was more like “Clueless in Seattle”,
and when my name was announced, clearly “Speechless in Seattle”! Having my name called out as the
National Award Recipient was like the feeling of my first “hole in one”. When you see it, you know it just
happened, but you really don’t believe it.
That evening, I was overcome with a sea of emotions. I tried to suppress most of them! I would feel like
crying and then act dignified even though I was numb. My thought, after Rolf said my name was “Try not
to trip on the way to the platform, and make sure your tie is on straight.” You know, the important things!
My wife was squeezing my hand and neck and I saw Rolf laughing. I knew this was for real. Too much
excitement for a senior!
The other candidates were so deserving. I was honestly rooting for them. They’re like my kids, and I wanted
so much for them to have this experience.
I cannot express what an incredible ride this has been; from being chosen back in the Fall of 2012 to being
selected as the National Award Recipient in Seattle. I am so glad I acted upon the option of telling my ostomy
story and that I will have the opportunity to share it more this year in an effort to help others.”
Nominate someone you know for Great Comebacks and learn more at www.greatcomebacks.com.
Great Comebacks® is sponsored by ConvaTec, a world-leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, in
partnership with the Crohn’s& Colitis Foundation (CCFA), the United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. (UOAA), the Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness
Society (IDEAS), the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN®) Society™ and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS).
PROMOTION
Swim With Freedom & Confidence
This season’s newest SWIM for HIM and HER.
Follow the dot to your favorite water spot! Using the
timeless design of black and white polka dots, you can
add a sense of play to your sunbathing or swimming
routine! By raising the adjustable side drawstrings or
keeping them fully extended for that extra A-line skirt
coverage, you can pair the bottom with the bathing
suit top of your choice. Created with Ostomysecrets’
standard higher waist and inner pocket, your wafer
and pouch are safely concealed giving you the
freedom to enjoy the beach, pool or lake. Release your inner surfer!
Modeled after surfer board shorts, Ostomysecrets’
Men’s Board Short will have you ready to face any
wave as our standard higher waistband and inner
pocket keep your pouch safe and secure. Hang ten
with freedom and confidence! Fun and functional,
our Blue with Red piping shorts are sure to be a hit
wherever your water travels may take you.
Find it at www.ostomysecrets.com
$54.99
Find it at www.ostomysecrets.com
$49.99
*The information contained in this article is provided for your general information only. Ostomysecrets does not give medical advice or engage in the practice of
medicine. We, under no circumstances, recommend particular treatments or exercises for specific individuals and in all cases recommend that you consult your
physician or local treatment center before beginning any course of treatment or exercise program. Not all exercise programs are suitable for everyone.
All trademarks are property of their respective owners. (c) 2013 Ostomysecrets or its affiliates.