In this week’s episode, Chloe Moody shares her unique ostomy journey, which began moments after her birth. A story of lifelong adversity, this episode is a testament for anyone who has ever felt as if they don’t fit in with the “typical”ostomy story. As our conversation unfolds, Chloe intimately recounts her childhood with an ostomy and what it was like growing up “different.”

 For Chloe, life with an ostomy is the only thing she’s ever known: born with the rare congenital illness necrotizing enterocolitis, Chloe received her colostomy shortly after her birth, leaving her with short bowel syndrome and a surgical feeding tube. Undergoing 10 surgeries and countless hospitalizations over her first 5 years, life as a sickly child with a stoma was all she knew.

 Even though her ostomy was normal for her, Chloe battled to accept her ostomy, opening up about the bullying she experienced growing up and the significant impact it had on her self-worth. With negativity and stigmatization even coming from family members, Chloe became so ashamed that at 16, she made the decision to have her stoma moved as low as possible so that nobody would see it.

 Undergoing 14 surgeries in 18 years, Chloe persevered through every setback. After years of psychological tumult and self-negativity, Chloe finally found confidence and acceptance in her early twenties through her community of young adult ostomates.

 Despite it all, Chloe never let her health hold her back. She attended UC Berkeley, and received her degree on time despite having sepsis three times in her final year. Now, continuing her education as a graduate student while working as a professional writer and columnist, Chloe understands the power of sharing your story with others, and frequently writes about her ostomy to spread awareness. Go Chloe!!

Wrapping up the episode, Chloe reflects on what she wishes she knew as a child growing up with an ostomy, sharing her wisdom with others who may be facing similar challenges. After years of being silenced, she shares her life with an ostomy on her social media, no longer allowing herself to listen to the voices of her past.

Chloe we are here for all of this! Listen/Watch Chloe’s story Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeart Radio, & YouTube