My Journey to Freedom, Fitness, and Advocacy

Jo, a 48-year-old fitness consultant, sustained an injury while giving birth and eventually underwent colostomy surgery. She now dedicates her time to achieving fitness goals, supporting women affected by severe childbirth injuries, and promoting ostomy awareness.

Learn how Jo transformed her life after stoma surgery

My name is Jo and I live in Camberley, Surrey, UK with my husband, where I run a private fitness practice. I have one child, my adult son. He’s a kind, driven person who means the world to me. I am also a proud ostomate – in 2019 I had colostomy surgery.  

I sustained a severe childbirth injury which led to faecal incontinence 
 
My journey to having a stoma began in 1998 when I was induced to deliver my son. I was 22 and he was a large baby, which had been missed prior to the induction. His size, combined with an accelerated delivery due to the induction medication, led to me sustaining a significant perineal injury, which the midwife misdiagnosed as a second degree tear. 
 
Two years after giving birth, I started experiencing faecal urgency and incontinence. It became clear that my tear was actually a third degree tear, known as an Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI), which affects the anal sphincter muscles crucial for bowel control and continence. This oversight meant that I missed the opportunity for surgical repair at the time of the birth. That procedure could have vastly improved my long-term quality of life and overall health.  

I spent years undergoing unsuccessful procedures, but finally decided to get a colostomy

My injury left me with severe pelvic floor dysfunction, stress urinary incontinence, prolapses, and faecal incontinence which required over two decades of treatments, interventions, and surgeries. 

Despite trying neuromodulation (a treatment involving an implanted device similar to a pacemaker that stimulates the sacral nerves controlling bladder and bowel function) and daily rectal irrigation, my faecal incontinence was still greatly impacting my life. My ability to work was dwindling and I found myself becoming increasingly housebound. I had to relinquish my part-time role as a specialist cardiac rehabilitation instructor within the National Health Service (NHS), which I had juggled between multiple surgeries for over a decade. 

After careful consideration, I decided to undergo a Hartmann's procedure, 21 years after my son's birth. This type of colostomy surgery had been suggested previously. At that time, however, I was hesitant due to my consultant’s negative portrayal of it, which left me terrified. My perspective shifted after befriending an ostomate who shared their journey with me, including their experiences with having both an ileostomy and a colostomy, as well as dealing with a peristomal hernia. Visiting a stoma support group also proved invaluable, providing me with a space to openly discuss my concerns and learn from others' positive experiences. The resounding message I heard from other ostomates was their wish for earlier intervention, which is a sentiment I now echo.  

My stoma has given me a new lease on life – and a passion for advocacy

Since undergoing stoma surgery, I have regained the freedom and confidence I was missing. I am no longer constrained by incontinence. I have been able to embrace new opportunities that have allowed me to grow personally and professionally. Channeling my inner athlete, I joined a competitive swimming club in 2021 and in 2022 I fulfilled my ambition to complete my yoga teacher training qualification.  

In addition, I’ve taken on personal fitness challenges to fundraise for charities supporting women injured in childbirth and ostomates. I completed a 33km indoor rowing challenge and hiked The Welsh Three Peaks where the toilets were closed. I also travelled to Australia this year to visit family, which was a significant milestone for me. Such an epic journey was made possible thanks to my stoma.  

My experience of rehabilitation and recovery has given me a special interest and expertise in women's health, particularly in pelvic floor dysfunction and childbirth injury. I'm dedicated to raising awareness about severe childbirth injuries and supporting women affected by them. Through my advocacy work and involvement with The MASIC Foundation, I lead a support group in Surrey and offer guidance to those facing stoma surgery and other surgeries due to childbirth injury. 

In October 2025, I'll take on my biggest challenge yet: scaling Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with the charity Chameleon Buddies. I’ll be a member of their “Climb Kili” team, raising crucial funds to build a clinic to support women in Kenya who have stomas as a result of birth injury.  

I've finally found a new normal with my stoma. It’s liberated me from the constrained life I was living before, and I aim to make the most of my opportunities from this point forward.