From HERO to ZERO, martial artist, manager, husband, father & provider to suddenly being diagnosed with life threatening bowel disease. 11 inches of diseased bowel removed, groin abscesses removed, bladder rebuild, full ileostomy with formation of Stoma and heavily relying on family & friends to help me both physically and mentally to adjust to this new life.
Joined Instagram under the name 'Stomacoaster' to tell my story, learn from other Survivors and inspire other not so well supported people to live a normal, full life by sharing my adventures, travels and tales of everyday life living with a Stoma.
Had a reversal on my bowel 2 years later to rejoin my bowel & restart my life as it was previously. Unfortunately this went wrong, Very Wrong resulting in an uncomfortable close encounter with death, mottled skin, vitals dangerously low and the choice to open me up fully again was my only real option, but chances of survival with my current condition was only around 20%
To this day the hardest thing was saying farewell to my wife, more than likely being the final time that I would be blessed to hug this wonderful woman & that broke my heart.
What followed was three days of touch and go, sepsis, pneumonia, and many associated problems. Thank fully I have no recollection of any of this but oh, my poor wife, she lived every terrifying detail as so many supportive spouse do.
Thankfully after weeks of intensive care and pure determination I pulled through, learning to speak, eat and walk again I was finally able to come home and continue my recovery
Alongside documenting my experiences on Instagram, I also attended a patients & peers support group and it soon became apparent how people with serious medical conditions and long term experiences in Intensive care need continuous support as being 'fixed' doesn't necessarily mean we are OK and this need can fluctuate daily! It also became apparent that Survivors can sometimes be very guarded about their ordeals & their ongoing situation and sometimes they literally want to shout it from the rooftops, sometimes out of pride of what they have endured & survived and sometimes out of desperation.
To this End Survivor Clothing Co was created, giving people choice through clothing and associated merchandise to openly display personal achievements of survival encouraging others to also wear theirs with pride and open conversation with others facing extreme trauma or also having been through the most horrendous of times but coming through the other side Stronger, Prouder and Even a better person having overcome such an ordeal.
So whether you have beaten Cancer, survived fire, Domestic Abuse, lost limbs, suffered mental health, a toxic workplace or boss, beaten Sepsis or Survived your own personal battle, please take a look at our range and if you like what you see, fell free to purchase and wear with the ultimate of pride
My Name is Clint & I'm a Survivor