Bob Reiling is living his life to the fullest – with an ostomy.

He enjoys recreational activities many might think impossible or risky with an ostomy. He has no limitations waterskiing, playing softball, riding mountain bikes, driving a race car, or riding skateboards or hiking with his kids. Bob believes having an ostomy is not an inconvenience or handicap. It’s a positive way of life that enables him to enjoy everyday activities he otherwise would not have been able to do if he had not made a decision 30 years ago to have a permanent end ileostomy with pan-colectomy to resolve his chronic medical challenges related to Crohn’s Disease. The life-saving surgery forever changed his life, giving him a renewed hope and strengthened his belief that anything is possible.

His knowledge of ostomy care began early on as he navigated the ins and outs of the industry with limited or no supportive services and educational resources and has evolved with the development of new products, continued, countless surgeries and advancement of medication and surgical procedures. In more recent years, he turned his attention to advocacy. He has become involved with support groups both in person (pre-COVID-19) and online for those involved in the ostomy community. His compassion for helping others, vision for empowering fellow ostomates and first-hand knowledge and experience of an ostomate’s journey propelled him to launch the Ostomy Awareness Foundation, Inc.

Before Bob’s surgery at 18, his health condition affected everyone in his circle. Family and friends sat at his bedside at home and in the hospital and feared he may die. He came close several times. He spent the majority of his high school years in and out of the hospital, was examined by numerous doctors and specialists and thought deeply about what his future might be if he continued on an uncertain path that could lead to his death in a matter of time. He was given options: continue on a medication program, with periodic stays at the hospital and no forward movement, with the real possibility he would die of colon cancer before age 30; try a new experimental medication that had a 25 percent chance of causing lymphoma cancer; or have his colon removed to alleviate the problem. The answer was definitive for him – surgery.

Bob stands confident in that milestone decision to this day. In fact, although some individuals have the opportunity to have their ostomy reversed, Bob is in the camp that, even if he had the chance to have a reversal, he would opt out.