So many people live in silence and it is costing them their quality of life, and unfortunately in some cases, their actual life. This talk is about the importance of making forbidden subjects normal and easy to discuss - when it comes to our bodies and their different functions. Nothing should be left in the darkness of shame when it can be lightened up by the knowledge of life. I am a 29-year-old lecturer and blogger whose biggest passion in life is to inspire people that are to afraid to use their own voice. I have a stoma, which means that my small intestine is cut and brought to the surface of the abdomen and forms an opening (a stoma). A special bag is placed over the stoma to collect the feces. Many people in my situation are isolated and too afraid to show who they really are, and that inspires me to show the way to self-acceptance and pride.
My lectures are about finding hope, light and happiness when everything seems hopeless, dark and sad. I want to use my story of pain for something good, so that’s what I’m doing. I also spend a lot of my time educating nursing staff about meeting patients in vulnerable situations and what a difference their behavior can make for the patient. In good and bad. I’ve been seen telling my story in a lot of different Swedish magazines and TV-shows, such as ”Malou efter tio” and ”Fråga doktorn” to mention a few, and I am now writing my first book that I hope will come in hand for people going through hard times in life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx