StomaDad was created for real life the kind that doesn’t always go as planned. It is a platform built from experience, not theory. It’s for anyone navigating life with an ostomy, facing colorectal cancer, or adjusting to a body that suddenly feels …
This Is My Bag
In the mid-80s, as a young man, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. There were many reasons I made that decision, but that is a story for another day. One of the things we learned in boot camp was the Rifleman’s Creed by Major General William H. …
The Ones Who Stayed Beside Us
October 4, 2022, is a day etched into my memory. That was the day I was diagnosed with cancer. I think I can say with certainty that no one ever wants to hear those words. For the person receiving the diagnosis, it is devastating. Your mind starts …
What Is Loss?
Recently, I had the chance to interview Candy Samples out of New York, and let me tell you, we had so much fun. We talked about her life, her work, her art, and the many things she has accomplished. Being a drag queen comes with sparkle, performance, …
Oooh That Smell …
When I was younger, I loved the song “That Smell” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I still do. I used to crank it up and sing along, not fully understanding what the song was really about. As a kid, I had no idea. As I got older, I quickly learned. Now, as an …
Crip Theory, Identity, and Where We Fit
While researching sexuality after cancer and life with a stoma, I came across a term many may not know: Crip Theory. It challenges society’s narrow ideas of what is “normal” when it comes to bodies, identity, and ability. Many people living with …
Waking Up with a Stoma
Waking Up with a Stoma I remember the day I woke up with a stoma. And to be honest it wasn’t a good day. My surgery went well, at least that’s what they told me. But coming out of anesthesia was rough. When I finally woke up, I pulled the …