The Healing Circle

Imagine living with an ostomy in a developing country and having to use plastic bags, metal cans, rubber gloves, rags or towels to manage your ostomy. Unfortunately, this situation is the reality for millions of people.

Thanks to Friends of Ostomates Worldwide-USA (FOW-USA), this reality is changing. Ann Favreau, President of FOW-USA, knows that, as a new or experienced person with an ostomy, your pouching system requirements vary from time to time. Because of these changes, you may have unused supplies. She implores you, “Don’t throw them away! Needy people who have no access to supplies or can’t afford them will benefit from your donated products through the efforts of FOW-USA.”

FOW-USA is a non-profit organization, established in 1986, that accepts unused ostomy supplies and ships them overseas to areas where they are needed. Through their newsletter, Facebook, website (fowusa.org) and board members’ appearances at local, regional, and national conferences, FOW-USA is telling their story and gaining support for their global efforts to make a difference in the lives of people with ostomies.

In 2016 alone, FOW-USA has sent 93 shipments to individuals and groups in over 70 countries. They accept pouches, skin barriers, skin wipes, paste, tapes, belts, pouch covers, scissors and pediatric supplies. Their volunteer warehouse staff unpacks, inspects, and then repacks the supplies according to the recipients’ requests. The warehouse coordinator works with shipping companies to send the products.

Emails of gratitude flood in daily from all corners of the world. An enterostomal therapy nurse (ET) from Nepal wrote about a 13-year-old girl with an ileostomy whose remote home was damaged in the recent earthquakes. She was unable to attend school because of lack of proper supplies, but thanks to FOW-USA, she is back in class and doing well.

“Every time I speak to a local ostomy group, it’s always the stories that move people to action,” says Ann. “Being involved in this organization is a wonderful way to give back to the world.”

Visit FOW-USA on Facebook or fowusa.org to learn more, sign up for their newsletter or make an online donation.