By Nadia Maffucci Di Rienzo, Ostomy Canada Ambassador
February is often a month devoted to love, filled with flowers, cards, celebrations, and small gestures of affection. But for many in the ostomy community, love shows up in far deeper ways than a box of chocolates or a Valentine’s Day dinner reservation. It shows up in the quiet moments, the hard conversations, the fear filled nights, and the tenderness required to navigate a life you never expected.
Three years ago, my world shifted in a way I could never have prepared for. I received a diagnosis that stopped me in my tracks, one that set me on a path I did not choose and could not have walked alone. In those early days, everything felt unfamiliar: every test result, every hospital corridor, every new limitation. Fear and uncertainty became daily companions.
But so did someone else.
Through the chaos and heartbreak, my husband was the calm beside me. He was the steady hand when I shook with fear, the strength when my own ran dry. He did not just walk with me. Sometimes, he carried me through the moments I was not sure I could face.
When I underwent ostomy surgery, the overwhelm reached a new level. The pain, the lack of mobility, and the shock of learning this entirely new way of living were all so much. Managing my ostomy felt impossible in the beginning, and the emotional weight of that cannot be overstated. Yet my husband stepped in without hesitation. He learned every detail, supported me through every change, and reminded me every single day that I was not doing this alone.
We are high school sweethearts, but nothing tests love quite the way illness does. And nothing reveals its strength more clearly.
Real love is not about avoiding life’s storms. It is about choosing each other through them again and again. It is late night bag changes, shared tears behind medical masks, and whispered promises in hospital hallways that we will keep building the boat together, no matter how rough the waters become.
In the advocacy work I do, I often emphasize the importance of a strong support system. Living with an ostomy can be overwhelming, especially in the early days, and having someone who understands or is willing to learn makes an incredible difference. It is not just about practical support. It is about emotional survival. Someone in your corner turns isolation into resilience.
This is why I believe it is essential for at least one person in your support network to learn basic ostomy care. Whether due to illness, injury, or simply the realities of recovery, there may come a time when managing your ostomy becomes challenging. Having a trusted person who can step in brings peace of mind and builds confidence. It truly takes a village.
This Valentine’s season, I am reflecting on a kind of love that does not always make it into greeting cards. It is the love that shows up at three in the morning. The love that learns. The love that adjusts. The love that stays. The love that makes living with an ostomy not just possible, but hopeful.
To everyone living with an ostomy and to every caregiver, partner, family member, or friend walking this road beside someone you love: your presence matters more than you will ever know.
Real love may not rescue you from the storm, but it will help you find your way through it.
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Nadia Maffucci Di Rienzo is a source of inspiration, advocating for those with invisible illnesses and bringing hope to many. Despite battling Ulcerative Colitis since 1997 and, more recently, colorectal cancer, Nadia’s resilience shines. After her total proctocolectomy in January 2023, she has bravely embraced life with a permanent ileostomy. Nadia shares her journey on her blog, Gutsy Girl Diaries, and Instagram, chronicling her experiences with IBD and cancer and her new life with an ostomy.
As the inaugural Ostomy Canada Ambassador, Nadia aims to destigmatize invisible illnesses and disabilities. Her story is not just about survival but thriving, proving life with chronic conditions can be purposeful and positive. Through her empowering spirit and uplifting message, Nadia inspires others to embrace life fully, despite challenges.
Visit Nadia’s website Gutsy Girl Diaries, or follow her on social media!
One Response
I absolutely love this story, supporters are often forgotten but they deserve so much praise! Knowing that a special person is there for you can make the journey back to health so much better.