US Awards Program

For 25 years, the Great Comebacks^® Program has honored inspirational individuals who, by sharing their stories, give hope and encouragement so that others, too, can reclaim their lives and pursue their dreams. Anyone who has overcome the challenges of living with serious intestinal diseases and ostomy surgery can apply for the Great Comebacks^® Awards. Friends, family members and healthcare professionals can also nominate someone for an award.

To enter, please download the appropriate PDF Application Form onto your computer to fill it out, then use the "submit form" button to email the completed application to GreatComebacks@ConvaTec.com.

The deadline for 2010 applications has been extented to July 31, 2010. Award recipients are chosen by the Great Comebacks Advisory Committee, and will be notified by the end of August, 2010.

If you have any questions, or are having any difficulties submitting your application online, please email us at GreatComebacks@ConvaTec.com or call Bridget Linebarger at 908-904-2031.

If you need to submit your application through the regular mail, please send a printed copy to:
Great Comebacks
c/o Bridget Linebarger
200 Headquarters Park Drive
Skillman, NJ 08558.

All applications post-marked on or before July 31, 2010, will be accepted into this year's program.

Categories include:

Great Comebacks^® Awards – Four recipients (one each from the East, South, Central and West regions) are recognized at special events across the country each fall, culminating in a national ceremony where all four recipients are honored and the national winner is named.

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Ina Brudnick Awards – Given in memory of pioneering stoma care nurse Ina Brudnick, four deserving students – also from the East, South, Central and West regions – are awarded $1,000 prizes and recognized at events during the fall. Students must be between the ages of 17 and 24, intend to pursue a higher education, and have undergone ostomy surgery and/or have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

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Comeback Kids^® Awards – Four young people representing the East, South, Central and West regions who are between the ages of 7 and 16 and are leading active, productive lives while managing an ostomy or other bowel/bladder disorders are also recognized at events during the fall.

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New! – The WOC Nurse Great Comebacks^® Award - Recognizing the important role that nurses play in helping patients come back after ostomy surgery, each year the program will also honor a WOC Nurse who has been instrumental in helping one of the recipients achieve their “Great Comeback.” Entrants in the three categories above should include details about their WOC nurse in their applications if they wish their nurse to be considered for this new recognition, which will be presented at the WOCN Annual Conference.