A lightbulb moment: my inner strength rose and my courage was mustered. I was scared, but I’d embraced big changes to my body already and I knew what I had to do. I had to accept my fate and learn to love my body again, learn to appreciate my body again… and appreciate the honour of being alive once more. Now, eight months later, I love my bum.

Recovering was a journey, and I’m not saying it was easy, but I want anyone who reads this who may be facing the same surgeries to know that while it might be hard at times, you can get through it. You can get to the other side of recovery.

When people face stoma surgery or have their stomas made permanent, plenty of them think their lives are over. But it could just be the beginning of a bright new chapter free from pain and trauma. It’s a chance to learn how to really love and accept yourself. We’re all different and we are all beautiful.

A bag on your belly or a missing rectum should never define you. These surgeries are major and they are life-changing, but they don’t need to change who you are or how you live your life.

“IBD has given me a ‘Barbie bum’ – and now I love my body”