Sara Biesiadny

Photo by Douglas Kreitz

Sara encourages others to remember, “Having an ostomy... does not define who you are, only you can do that."

Born with birth defects of the spine, bladder and colon, Sara Biesiadny received an ostomy shortly after birth. Despite this rough start in life, Sara has never wasted a moment’s thought on “why has this happened to me”? In fact, she has refused to let her ostomy and other medical conditions get in the way of pursuing her love of sports and science.

Even though Sara has undergone continuous medical procedures and surgeries since birth, she won’t sit on the sidelines, and enjoys playing softball, basketball and swimming. She doesn’t limit herself, and always goes after what she wants without hesitation. In fact, as a freshman, she set her mind to join the high school golf team and has enjoyed three solid seasons with the team. Sara also has excelled academically. She relishes her science classes and dreams of pursuing a career in forensic chemistry.

She emphasizes that the support of her family and friends from Youth Rally, a summer camp for adolescents with an ostomy to come together and meet others who deal with similar life experiences, is important to helping her stay mentally, physically and emotionally strong.

Sara, 17, of Grapevine, TX, is currently a high school senior and encourages others suffering from bowel diseases to remember, “Having an ostomy or bowel disease does not define who you are, only you can do that. Go out, follow your heart, chase your dreams, live your life to the fullest. Life is precious and too short to dwell on the challenges in front of you – meet those head on and conquer them.”