Stoma Helpline We’re here 24 hours a day: 0800 328 4257
Stoma Helpline We’re here 24 hours a day: 0800 328 4257
Linda has spent her career caring for others as a cardiac nurse. But in 2021, her own life took an unexpected turn when she needed an emergency Hartmann’s operation following complications from diverticular disease. Overnight, she found herself adapting to life with a stoma.
“It was a huge shock,” Linda recalls. “I had so many questions and worries, and it felt like no one else really understood what I was going through.”
That experience became the spark for her volunteering journey with Colostomy UK.
Finding purpose in shared experiences
Today, Linda is one of the friendly voices on Colostomy UK’s helpline. Many callers share stories strikingly similar to her own.
“I don’t give medical advice—that’s the role of stoma nurses—but I can listen, reassure, and say, ‘me too.’ Sometimes, that makes all the difference.”
Through listening and sharing, Linda helps callers feel less alone during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
Beyond the helpline
Linda’s involvement doesn’t stop there. She’s supported Colostomy UK at stoma care open days, meeting people face-to-face and showing others that life with a stoma is not something they have to go through alone.
More recently, she played a role in shaping national guidance produced by Colostomy UK and the Royal College of Nursing. The guidance helps nurse managers better support staff who are working while living with a stoma.
“It was lovely to be asked,” Linda says. “I hope it helps make things easier for NHS staff who are working with a stoma.”
Turning challenge into connection
For Linda, volunteering has transformed a difficult chapter in her life into something meaningful and empowering.
“It’s given me purpose and connection,” she explains. “If you’re thinking about getting involved, I’d say do it—your story could really help someone else.”
