Brave Callum begged for a colostomy bag to get his sporting life back
CRICKETER WITH CROHN’S DISEASE MADE REQUEST AT 18 TO BEAT PAIN AND EMBARRASSMENT, THEN PLAYED FOR COUNTY
A BRAVE young sportsman who played county cricket has told how he got his life back after begging doctors to remove part of his stomach and fit him with a colostomy bag.
Callum Brodrick, 23, revealed how the radical operation ended years of pain and embarrassment and allowed him to play professionally for Derbyshire – complete with a specially-made guard to protect his bag while batting.
Callum’s health problems began at just 16, soon after he won a boarding scholarship at a top private school because of his allround sporting prowess at cricket, rugby, football and golf.
He said: “I began to have dreadful stomach pains, passing lots of blood when I went to the loo, and sometimes little or no control over my bowels. It was embarrassing for a lad of that age.
“I remember being on the school bus back from playing an away
football match when that happened and I had an ‘accident.’ Imagine that in front of all your teammates.”
Callum had to drop out of school and his dream scholarship before doctors eventually diagnosed his condition. He had Crohn’s Disease, a chronic ulcerative inflammation of the digestive system.
Months of treatment followed, but drugs and steroids had little effect. Callum lost weight, muscle and fitness because he was too scared to eat, knowing the agonising stomach pains that would follow.
Then came the momentous decision to beg doctors for a colostomy. It would mean removing the large intestine, taking a small part of it to form an opening in his stomach from which bodily waste would empty into a bag fixed on the outside.
Callum, from Burton, said: “Doctors were initially reluctant to do it because I was so young – just 18. But I was fed up with the constant pain and being stuck indoors all the time with my mum and dad while all my mates were going out living their lives. I just wanted my life back, and if this is what it took I wanted to do it.”
Five years on and Callum is delighted with the decision he made. He lives a pain-free, normal life, plays sport, has a
girlfriend, a good job, eats more or less what he wants, and enjoys spending time with his mates. One day there could be the possibility of a reversal op, but Callum is reluctant to undergo more surgery and the underlying risks while he has such a good quality of life.
Following his surgery at the age of 18, Callum was given the choice between two types of colostomy bag. For the last five years, he has needed to modify and cut them down himself to make sure they fit properly. After reading about a newly launched app from Well Healthcare Supplies he downloaded it, which now gives him access to a much wider range of products and full control of his prescription.
He said: “It’s a much easier way of managing my prescription, I simply order via the app whenever I want with the quantity I want and can track my delivery too. In the past I’ve had to order in bulk and sometimes felt bombarded by the supplier with phone calls to make orders.”
The app developed by independent pharmacy chain Well Pharmacy, allows Callum to track his orders, which are delivered for free next working day on receipt of his prescription.
Callum said: “I feel much more in control. It’s really easy to use – I can flick through to see the full range of products and something I particularly like is I can customise my order with my measurements – no more needing to cut my colostomy bags myself!”
Further details are available by visiting www.well.co.uk/wellhealthcare-supplies
I was fed up with the constant pain and being stuck indoors all the time while my mates were going out living their lives. Callum Brodrick