Many find it a sensitive subject. That’s understandable. But there was little sign of embarrassment on display when a large group of ostomy patients recently gathered in Huai’an to share their experiences of that which many prefer not discuss.
许多人认为这是一个敏感话题。这是可以理解的。但最近，当一大群造口患者聚集在淮安，分享他们不愿讨论的经历时，几乎没有表现出尴尬的迹象。
On the afternoon of 23 September, the patients and their families had gathered to participate in the “Ostomy Fellowship” initiated and organized by Huai’an First People’s Hospital.
9月23日下午，患者及家属齐聚一堂，参加由淮安市第一人民医院发起组织的“造口联谊会”。
Uniting them was the fact they had all gone through surgery to create an opening in their abdomens to allow for waste or urine to leave their bodies.
让他们团结起来的是这样一个事实：他们都接受了手术，在腹部开了一个开口，以便废物或尿液排出体外。
That’s the fact that has led to a stigma toward ostomy patients from certain sectors of society. As a result, some patients are embarrassed to be close to others, which is what made Sunday’s event all the more meaningful for those attending.
正是这一事实导致了社会某些阶层对造口术患者的耻辱。因此，一些患者因与他人亲近而感到尴尬，这使得周日的活动对参加者来说更有意义。
After emotional speeches on the lawn of the Hospital, many of the patients sincerely thanked the institution and affiliated associations for providing such a good communication platform for ostomy patients.
在医院草坪上发表了感人至深的演讲后，不少患者衷心感谢医院及所属协会为造口患者提供了如此良好的交流平台。
A speech was also made by Tao Guoquan, Deputy Director of the Hospital’s General Surgery Department and Director of the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department. Tao said that while ostomy surgery is mostly performed on patients with rectal and colon cancer, post surgery the patients must return to society.
医院普外科副主任、消化外科主任陶国权也致辞。陶说，虽然造口手术主要针对直肠癌和结肠癌患者进行，但手术后患者必须回归社会。
“They need the understanding and support of their families, the professional guidance and care of our Hospital’s medical staff, and the understanding and help of the public”, said Tao. “They need a lot, which means we can do a lot.”
“他们需要家人的理解和支持，需要我们医院医护人员的专业指导和照顾，更需要社会公众的理解和帮助。”陶说。 “他们需要很多，这意味着我们可以做很多。”
During the volunteer-nurse experience sharing session, Ms. Yu Guixiang spoke affectionately of her experience in caring for two people with ostomies; both her parents.
在志愿者护士经验分享会上，于桂香女士深情地讲述了她照顾两个造口患者的经历；她的父母。
Yu said that her father and mother had one ostomy on the left side of the abdomen and one on the right side. But the two impairments did not crush their family; rather it inspired them to have the courage to love life.
于女士说，她的父亲和母亲腹部左侧各做了一个造口术，右侧腹部各做了一个造口术。但这两种缺陷并没有压垮他们的家庭。相反，它激发了他们热爱生活的勇气。
With their own encouragement and persistence, the two seniors can now do morning exercises like most people, enjoy the same delicious food and spend their old age peacefully. She encouraged all people with ostomies not to feel anxious, sad or stigmitised, but to actively integrate into society.
在自己的鼓励和坚持下，两位老人现在可以像大多数人一样做早操，享受同样的美味，安度晚年。她鼓励所有造口患者不要感到焦虑、悲伤或耻辱，而是积极融入社会。
