Ostomy Supplies for those in need - Evan Kluttz fundraiser

December 11th of 2023, I underwent surgery to remove a section of my large intestine. A scheduled three-hour surgery stretched to nearly six hours, and due to severe deterioration of my large intestine, my surgery team was unable to repair and re-attach my large intestine at that time. I awoke from surgery with an ostomy bag attached to a stoma on my stomach.

For those who aren't familiar with the terms ostomy bag and stoma, I'll spare you the details and suggest using Google for a thorough explanation. Needless to say, there was a lot of shock and honestly a bit of anger as well on my part, but the surgeon was confident that my stoma and ostomy bag would be temporary and provided an expected 4-6 month time frame on waiting and healing before they would hopefully perform surgery to reverse the procedure.

I was in the hospital for 8 days. I experienced some of the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, all the while adjusting to the new "normal" of my life with a stoma and ostomy bag.

In the hospital, I was introduced to the term "ostomy supplies," a term that encompassed not only the logistical issues of having bodily waste eliminated through the stoma on my stomach into an ostomy bag, but also the hygiene, adhesion, skin care, discretion, and to be honest, "risk management" if you understand my meaning.

I had phone numbers to call for suppliers of these products, and of course, websites to peruse for any needs related to the care and maintenance of my stoma and its safe and hygienic functioning. It was a lot to take in and digest.

It was about this time my wife Stephanie re-connected me with a friend from a prior church that I belonged to. I don't have a Facebook or social media page, but Stephanie does, and Johnathan Bradshaw stepped through the door into my world with his open willingness to share not only his experiences living with a stoma and an ostomy but practical advice, and some love as well.

The only part of Johnathan's story I will share is that he has a permanent ostomy, and it was life-saving for him. You can hear about the estimated number of people in the United States currently living with a stoma due to an ostomy operation (somewhere near 2 million both permanent and temporary), but until you know and communicate with one of them, it's just an amorphous number. Johnathan made my situation relatable, and his willingness to share insight on any variety of subjects from adhesive procedures to stashing emergency supplies to dealing with embarrassing noises and diet helped me through the process and even helped me to laugh a little bit as well.

I had a successful "takedown" (read reversal) surgery on March 29th of this year. I was given a clean bill of health and after the surgical wounds healed, an open opportunity to resume my life as close as possible to what it was prior to my first surgery.

To honor one man's kindness and generosity, I would like to do my best to "pay it forward" and try and make a positive difference for someone else in the way that Johnathan did for me.

Kindred Box is a non-profit 501(c)(3) in the United States committed to addressing the unmet needs of people with ostomies who cannot afford essential medical supplies.

I was fortunate enough to have most of the cost of my ostomy supplies covered through insurance, and I was healthy enough post-surgery to return to work in less than 10 days. For many, the cost of these supplies is significantly in excess of their means, and these supplies are not optional. They are a way of life. All funds raised in this endeavor will go to those who cannot afford them on their own, who do not have insurance to cover the cost of the supplies (or is woefully inadequate), and those who are unable to work due to the severity of medical issues that necessitated an ostomy.

Any gift of any size is genuinely appreciated and will make a difference. I had my stoma and ostomy for 108 days (not that I was counting), and I have set a goal of raising $10,800, or $100 for each day I wore an ostomy bag to donate to Kindred Box to assist in their ongoing efforts to provide supplies to those in need.

Thank you, Stephanie, for having the foresight to connect me with Johnathan.

Thank you to Dr. Kasten and his team for your surgical skills and all you have done to get me where I am.

Thank you, of course, to Johnathan Bradshaw, for being who you are and for making such a huge difference for me in this process.

And a special thanks to anyone who generously donates to help me reach and hopefully surpass my giving goal.

Thanks for allowing me to share my story -

Evan Kluttz