In today’s Fortunate Friday post, I want to shine the spotlight on a local business that has had a great impact on my caregiving journey with my grandma. That business is the Ostomy Care Center here in Kansas City.
My grandma has had a colostomy for almost three years now. She had her first colostomy in November 2013, which was reversed in February 2014, due to diverticulitis. She had her second colostomy while in the hospital in June of 2015. I have been supporting her navigate her journey of living with an ostomy.
When you have an ostomy of any kind, you have to get supplies to maintain it on a regular basis. There’s no way I could help my grandma with her colostomy without the Ostomy Care Center.
The OCC offers ostomy supplies and wound care and urological care products at wholesale prices. While the home health agency would be content to hand you a catalog and figure it out yourself, the staff at OCC personally help you figure out what you need. If they don’t have it, they’ll get it for you.
They always answer the phone and respond to emails. They are open on Saturdays so you can get what you need outside of the typical 9-5. They can ship supplies directly to customers who are unable to get to their storefront. They have even offered to deliver my grandma’s supplies in times of desperation.
Steve and Jen are super courteous and helpful and they always ask how we’ve been doing. They truly care about their customers, which is hard to find these days.
They always listen non-judgmentally to what’s going on and answer any questions I have as my grandma’s caregiver. They have provided us with tons of information to help us manage her colostomy. Steve personally offered to walk me through changing Grandma’s bag. They have been in business for over 40 years, so I know that I can trust them with my grandma’s ostomy.
I sincerely look forward to seeing them every month when it’s time to pick up her bags.
Recently when my grandma was getting home health after a hospitalization, the HH nurse said they’d be ordering her ostomy stuff. I pitched a big fit! I told them that going to the OCC was my emotional support! Did they want to rob me of that?!
Dealing with my grandma’s colostomy freaked me out at first and can be very stressful at times. Thanks to the support and coaching of the OCC, it’s been a manageable part of life for my grandma. They have truly been a lifesaver.
Hats off to Steve and Jennifer at the OCC! We’re so blessed to have you along for this ride! Here’s to old fashioned customer service and good people.
Visit the Ostomy Care Center online at ostomycarecenter.net
There’s no way I could help my grandma with her ostomy without the 
At first, when my grandma got the announcements in the mail, I just scoffed at them. I didn’t really see the value in something so ephemeral as an annual visit (Now I laugh as I see how quickly a year can pass!). However, after the first visit, I made a point of paying attention to the mail that comes from United Healthcare/AARP regarding her health care, because it turns out that sometimes it is actually helpful!
