2016 – What a crazy year for the world!
Between exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s and surprise US election results, I’m sure this will be a year for the history books.
For me and my advocacy work, it’s been an absolutely incredible year, and I’d like to share some of the things I’m most proud of.
Table of Contents
March 2016
One of the highlights for me as an ostomy advocate was speaking at WCET in Cape Town, South Africa. Not only did I speak to a room full of stoma care nurses, but it was the first time for me traveling with an ostomy.
https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-trip-cape-town/
April 2016
My travels didn’t end in Cape Town! I was invited to speak at the Patient 2 Patient Education Event in Ann Arbor, Michigan and I got to meet a few fellow advocates for the first time in person.
https://www.veganostomy.ca/ibd-advocates-unite-at-p2pep16-ann-arbor-michigan-usa/
June 2016
June saw me participating in another Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, and it was also the month that I launched the new version of the VeganOstomy site.
https://www.veganostomy.ca/vo-2-dot-0/
A lot of work went into the new site design, testing, and publishing, but it’s been getting a lot of praise and it’s only the beginning of things to come :)
August 2016
I celebrated three years with my stoma and put out a few fun Q&A videos answering questions from you guys!
https://www.veganostomy.ca/3rd-year-ostomy-questions/
August also marked the third year of my blog!
September 2016
As summer was coming to a quick end, I did get to enjoy the Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival, where I met Dr. Greger of NutritionFacts.org!
https://www.veganostomy.ca/toronto-vegetarian-food-fest-2016-meeting-my-idol/
October 2016
October started off with quite the bang as I traveled to Vancouver, BC to give another ostomy presentation!
https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-travel-bc/
December 2016
By far the biggest surprise for me was being invited to Orlando, Florida to meet with sixteen other IBD and ostomy advocates for AIBD and the IBD Social Circle Summit.
It was a chance for me to personally connect with other advocates whom I’ve only known through the internet.
https://www.veganostomy.ca/aibd2016-orlando/
So much more!
Among the big events, I had also been featured on several ostomy related websites, such as Shield Healthcare and Ostomy Connection, and had done a Twitter chat with other “Dudes with IBD”.
Looking Forward to 2017
I have a lot planned in 2017, including a whole slew of new product reviews, a new video series to help ostomates, more speaking announcements, and other things to help people like you!
A lot of what’s to come has been possible because of the support that you guys have given me, not only through donations, but also through the encouragement I get.
I hope that VeganOstomy continues to be a guiding light in your own journey, and I hope that 2017 will be both a positive and prosperous year for you as well!
Eric
