Living Openly with an Ostomy: Sarah Levitt's Journey

Early Life and Diagnosis

• 💡 Sarah Levitt was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age three, experiencing pain, blood in stool, and malnutrition.
• 🧠 By March 2006, her condition worsened, leading to a Crohn's disease diagnosis and two years of excruciating pain, hospitalizations, and reliance on NG tube feeding.
• ⚠️ The physical toll included vision, skin, liver, and bone problems, such as compression fractures, due to long-term medication use.

Emergency Surgery and Adaptation

• 🏥 At 13, Sarah underwent emergency ostomy surgery due to her intestines being at risk of rupture, rerouting her digestive system to a bag on her abdomen.
• 😔 The surgery brought a new stigma, significantly impacting her confidence and self-esteem during crucial teenage years.
• 🛠️ She describes her ostomy system as a two-piece setup with a wafer/flange and a drainable bag, which she empties regularly.

Years of Secrecy and Shifting Perspective

• 🤫 For 15 years, Sarah kept her ostomy a secret, even from partners, due to societal stigma and a lack of relatable role models.
• 🌱 In her 20s, her condition improved, allowing her to return to school and live a fuller life, prompting a commitment to embrace her ostomy.
• 🥳 On her 29th birthday in September 2023, she decided to share her journey publicly, finding increased confidence and comfort.

Embracing Life and Raising Awareness

• 🎭 Sarah uses humor and social media to educate others about ostomy life, embracing her "Barbie butt" status (no rectum).
• 🚀 She shares openly about bodily functions, using humor to navigate conversations and reduce challenges.
• 🌟 Her openness has led to opportunities in modeling and media, including walking New York Fashion Week and appearing in Maxim Australia, advocating for chronic illness warriors.
• 📣 Sarah is dedicated to raising awareness, aiming to eliminate the fear and stigma associated with ostomies for others.