Aloha friends,
When you live with an ostomy, few things help more than hearing from someone who has been there. For more than a decade, one person has made it her mission to collect and share those voices: my friend Christine Kim, founder of Ostomy/Connection.
Who Is Christine Kim?
Christine has lived with a permanent ileostomy since 1994 because of Crohn's disease. She knows firsthand how isolating ostomy life can feel at the start, and how much it helps to connect with others and find products that make daily life easier.
She has been a steady voice in our community for years: writing, gathering resources, attending events like the WOCN Society conference as a guest blogger, and quietly helping people behind the scenes.
What Is Ostomy/Connection?
Christine founded Ostomy/Connection (O/C) in 2015 to share stories from people living with ostomies all over the world. After publishing hundreds of those stories, O/C grew into what she envisioned from the start: a hub for ostomates.
Here's what you'll find there today:
- Real stories. First person stories from ostomates of every age and background. One of my favorites features my friend Eric, spending Sunday with a vegan foodie and ostomy advocate.
- A membership. Since 2024, members get curated perks and stories delivered straight to their inbox.
- An ostomy only company directory. A list of verified companies that make ostomy products and services, so you can find what you need in one place.
Giving Back: Kindred Box
One of the things I admire most about Christine is her heart for people who are struggling. Through Kindred Box, she organized donated ostomy supplies for people in the U.S. who couldn't afford them. As she put it, she once needed help herself, and she wanted to pay it forward.
Why I Share Her Work
I've been in the ostomy world for 18 years, and I've watched people like Christine build this community one story at a time. When someone new reaches out to me feeling alone, I want them to know there are people and places ready to welcome them. Ostomy/Connection is one of those places.
More Ostomy Resources
- UOAA New Ostomy Patient Guide
- UOAA Support Group Finder
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
- Find a WOC nurse near you
- Meet Eric of Vegan Ostomy
- Our full list of ostomy resources
And on our site:
- Horizontal vs vertical ostomy belt: which is right for you?
- How to find your ostomy belt size
- My own story: how ostomy surgery saved my life
Go Say Hi to Christine
Visit OstomyConnection.com, read a few stories, and consider becoming a member. And if you have a story of your own, it might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Mahalo, Christine, for all the years of lifting up our community.
Aloha,
Richard O'Hamill
Founder, O'Hamill Inc. / HIRO
Ostomate since 2008
This post shares my personal experience and opinions and is not medical advice. Disclosure: HIRO is listed in the Ostomy/Connection company directory as a paid member. This post was written independently and was not requested or paid for by Ostomy/Connection.
Photos: Helena Lopes, Hannah Busing and Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash.