by Sean Currie, as originally published in the Summer 2025 edition of Ostomy Canada Magazine.

Intestinal Bowel Disease (IBD) and colon cancer have affected so many of my family members that it’s known as ‘the Family Curse’. My IBD issues started in high school. I constantly felt like I had to go to the bathroom, but nothing would come out, or it would be in very small amounts. I would later find out that this was due to a stricture.

I went for several tests at the Brandon Regional Health Centre in Manitoba, but the doctors were unable to determine the root cause of my symptoms at that time. It wasn’t until several years later, in my early 20’s, when there was blood where there shouldn’t have been blood. After my first colonoscopy, which I woke up halfway through due to not being given enough sedation, the doctors determined that I had ulcerative colitis. I was prescribed Salofalk for treatment.

After my diagnosis, I didn’t have much information in order to figure out what I should and shouldn’t be doing, but I realize now that the treatment is different for everyone. I spent my 20’s unsure of what to do with my life at the time. Between my health and my job at a pork processing plant, I wasn’t in a good headspace until I met the ‘brains of the operation’; my future wife, Celeste, in 2005. After she graduated from university, we decided to move to Alberta to find work in her field. Best. Move. Ever.

We moved to Vulcan, AB in 2006. My colitis was ok, but in 2007, I suffered a bad flare-up due to the stress of trying to find suitable work. I was referred to a specialist from Lethbridge who, on a routine basis, made appointments to see patients in Vulcan. He attempted to do a scope, but he had not accurately read my files prior to the procedure, and did not bring a small enough scope that would pass through my stricture. I woke up extremely angry. I was then referred to the GI Unit at the Foothills Medical Centre (FMS)/ Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Doctors were able to perform a scope fairly quickly after my initial visit, and they then changed my diagnosis to Crohn’s disease. The specialist had started to talk about putting me on biologics, but we were unsure if our health insurance benefits through our work companies would cover the costs.

In September of 2008, Celeste and I got married. The running joke at our wedding was that if I had to race to the bathroom, my best man would step in for me – haha! On our first wedding anniversary, we started the tradition of nearly always being at the hospital on our anniversaries. I went skydiving and missed the ground! The wind shifted, and I ended up landing on the roof of the airplane hangar and broke my back. I had a compression fracture of my T12 vertebrae and had to be in a clamshell brace for nine weeks. I received treatment at the Foothills Hospital. I was not allowed to get out of bed until I had my brace on. They had me pumped so full of morphine that I became extremely constipated, and because of my stricture, I was unable to have a bowel movement. Celeste brought me home from the Foothills Hospital and took me straight to the Vulcan Hospital, where they gave me Colyte and an enema to provide me with relief.

Around the time of my accident, I started working with a long-haul trucking company. I was able to keep a Luggable Loo in my truck so that I always had a bathroom with me, which is a portable toilet that fits anyone of any size when plumbing isn’t an option. When my guts were good, my trucking days went well. But when my guts were acting up, I would lose a lot of driving time due to always needing to stop.

In November of 2018, after playing a game of shinny hockey, I went to retrieve my GoPro video camera that was recording the game, and I slipped and broke my arm on the ice. This was the beginning of a downward spiral with my health, both mentally and physically. By December, I became incontinent. I would literally be standing in the doorway of my bathroom, and I still would not make it to the toilet in time.

In January of 2019, we decided that Humira wasn’t working, and my doctors switched me to Entyvio. My specialist also suggested talking to a surgeon to see how they could help me. In February of 2019, I spoke with Dr. Johnson, who asked me what I wanted to do. I said, “Cut me open and rip it all out”. He asked if I wanted to keep my anus and rectum in case there was an opportunity down the line when we could reattach my lower parts. He explained that if we removed everything, there was a 50% chance of my Crohn’s coming back, but if we kept part of it, there was approximately a 70% chance, and I would have to undergo annual scopes. I decided to remove it all as my stricture was in my rectum, which is where I had the majority of my problems. Dr. Johnson asked if I had ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, as he saw both diagnoses in my chart. I explained that I was initially diagnosed with colitis, but that my doctors had found something that aligned more with Crohn’s. He decided to have my large intestine biopsied once it was removed in order to determine which disease I had. Of course, the test came back inconclusive.

A week later, I got a phone call to tell me that my ileostomy surgery was booked for April 2nd and Dr. Datta would perform it at the Peter Lougheed hospital. My surgery took longer than anticipated as, according to Dr. Datta, my body would not relax enough. I was in the hospital for two weeks. The hydromorphone that I was given for pain management gave me wild hallucinations! My bowels took a few days to wake up after my surgery, so I was unable to keep food down. I had to have a bulb drain replaced by day nine as blood was pooling in my pelvis. The nurses try to get patients walking two days after surgery, as it helps to speed up the recovery process. They have markers set up around the ward that tell you how far you have walked. I had a hard time the first week as I got nauseous fairly easily, but by the time I was being discharged, I was walking over three km a day. I lost over 20 pounds by the time I left the hospital. The staff were all amazing and supportive.

One of the ostomy nurses gave me a pamphlet about the Ostomy Canada Society, an organization that offers support, and they also helped me to get in touch with the Calgary Ostomy Society. I wasn’t too sure about joining, but I wanted to meet with other people who also have an ostomy, as I wasn’t given much information from the hospital for life after the initial recovery period. I wanted to learn about skin care, blockages, hydration, and life moving forward. I first met some of the Calgary Ostomy Society members at a Friends of Ostomates Worldwide Canada (FOWC) event held at the CB Medical warehouse. Volunteers were packing supplies to ship to third-world countries because ostomates who live there often make do with little to no proper supplies. It was nice to meet people and learn about the Calgary Ostomy Society. I met Lisa there and showed her some of my wildlife photography. She mentioned they could use a photographer at the Ostomy Canada Youth Camp and asked if I would be willing and able to take photos there. I went out to camp for two days. The second day was very memorable as the campers were whitewater rafting on the Kananaskis River, and I had to quickly drive to different areas along the river to take photos! I now try to volunteer every summer for Ostomy Canada Youth Camp, and I initiated and helped organize an annual water fight with the Redwood Meadows Fire Department. I also take photos for the Step Up For Ostomy event and helped with the first bags-out model shoot in 2023. In winter 2025/26, I helped organized the first professional Ostomy Canada Photoshoot and Video Shoot, alongside my friend Brad MacMillan. I’ve made a lot of friends at the Calgary Ostomy Society, and I enjoy attending the Calgary Ostomy Gutsy Gang meet-ups and participating in the monthly support meetings. I have also met several members, camp volunteers, and campers from the Ostomy Canada Society Youth Camp.

In 2020, after a decade of fertility issues, we became parents to a beautiful little girl; this is something we never thought would happen. She is our ‘lightning strike’! I love being a dad, even though she’s making me lose my hair and my hearing faster! She’s smart, outgoing, and has impeccable comedic timing. My ileostomy has given me the freedom to be able to do things with her that wouldn’t have been possible before, like taking her to the playground, road trips, or airplane spotting at an airport. Now that she is a bit older, she is learning about how Daddy goes to the ‘potty’ differently, but it’s a non-issue for her.

One evening in December 2023, Celeste noticed my stomach protruding out around my stoma. Dr. Datta confirmed that I had developed a hernia. I still can do most everything I want to do, but now I do it wearing a hernia belt. It is not the most comfortable thing in the world, and it is a huge relief when I get to take it off before bed.

During the first half of 2024, signs pointed to another flare-up, which was confirmed in July of 2024. A fecal coliform test, CT scan, sigmoidoscopy and ultrasound were all performed within the matter of a week!

By fall, I was starting to call in a significant number of sick days at work and decided to end my seasonal job a bit sooner than planned. I had to go on short-term disability so that I could focus on my health. In October, it was confirmed that my Entyvio treatments had stopped working, and I was switched to another biologic, Skyrizi, along with a hefty dose of prednisone.

I’ve had some ups and downs with Skyrizi, however, I have been told it can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride during the first six months of treatment. A cousin of mine is also on Skyrizi and has been supportive in sharing her experiences with me. I’m hoping it works, as my next option is a pill, Rinvoq, which I’ve been told can have some pretty nasty side effects.

Currently, I am back to work for the season and am feeling somewhat more human. My energy levels are not as low as they were over the winter, but I do get pain in my hernia once in a while. I am waiting to see Dr. Datta again for further hernia treatment options; however, any treatment will most likely be delayed until my flare-up is back under control. My ileostomy surgery saved my life! I was mentally at rock bottom, but somehow kept going. I can now live my life instead of being glued to a toilet. I can play hockey without needing to run and take off my gear to use a bathroom. I can now eat vegetables, French fries and ice cream without suffering! I am able to be a volunteer firefighter in my community. I can enjoy travelling without needing to worry about where the next bathroom is.

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Sean lives in the Calgary area and is a member of the Calgary Ostomy Society. He is the official photographer for many local events and the Ostomy Canada Youth Camp. In his spare time, he is an avid wildlife and aircraft photographer. You can check out many of his photos on his S&C Currie Photography Facebook page.

This story was originally featured in the Summer 2025 issue of Ostomy Canada Magazine and was sourced by Lisa Gausman, Senior Editor.