Katryna Roos and her fiancé Greg were engaged in April 2023 and jumped into planning their perfect wedding for July 6, 2024.
But in late 2023, her colitis flared up – and would not stop. Three different biological drugs failed but she still believed the flares would stop before the wedding.
As the months passed, the flare continued and the special day was becoming the stressful day: “We’re going to have food I can’t eat, drinks I can’t drink. I’m going to be wearing this dress that I’m going to feel scared in. I didn’t realize how much of my brain was committed to worrying about where a bathroom was if an accident was going to happen.”
It was clear they needed to pivot, but she was bitter. At times she felt so sick that she only wanted a ceremony with her and her husband to be.
She describes her health at this point:
“I had abdominal pain almost all the time. I had no energy. I could only eat rice and eggs. I couldn’t take my dog for a walk. I couldn’t drive 15 minutes and feel secure. I had no life outside of a bathroom, I was going up to 15 times a day.”
About two months before the wedding, they changed plans. First, the vows ceremony would have fewer people so she could leave and go to the washroom if needed. Next, as the reception was outdoors at a rural venue, there was a distance between the tables and the main building where washrooms are located. The solution: they rented a portable toilet and put it at the head table with all her supplies, such as diapers, wipes and poop bags.
Guests were told about the arrangement, but just in case, her bridesmaids were tasked with chasing away anyone who wanted to sneak in to use the bridal toilet. Venue staff even pitched in to create a sign to let people know the toilet was just for Katryna.
Happily, the day was a success. She says: “I had the best wedding day. I felt comfortable, I felt safe. Then I could just enjoy our day. I didn’t have to fear if I felt a twinge in my stomach that something’s going to happen, so where’s the nearest bathroom. I could just fully be in our wedding day.”
After the wedding – problems continue
Katryna’s health took another downward turn shortly after the wedding - she developed a rectal abscess that meant she had to stop working and would need to have part of her colon removed and the creation of an ostomy, a surgically created hole in her abdomen to allow stool to leave the body.
Katryna says: “When I found out I was going to have an ostomy, it broke my heart and I was so low at that point. It just felt so unfair and I didn’t want to deal with it. Even though I had the background as a nurse and had dealt with ostomies, I just wanted no part of it.”
Despite her fears, her October 17, 2024, colectomy surgery and ostomy have been life changing. Her health improved quickly. She went back to her nursing role on November 28, 2024. She is currently pain free and medication free.
As for her life today, she says: “Everything is better. I have a life again. I’m back to work full-time. I can go for walks. I can do anything I did before. Everything is wonderful.”
Her message to her pre-ostomy self: “I wish I could go back and talk to myself because my life is so beautiful now and I have such a good relationship with my ostomy and I think fondly of it.”
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Katryna, her husband Greg and their dog, Buck
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Katryna and Greg at their wedding