2007 Great Comebacks® Program Award Recipient
East Region
“My disease has made me appreciate life, especially my family, to the fullest... Now, I want to help others push through their hardships,” says Scott.
Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when he was 9 years old,
Scott Ellis grew up determined that he was not going to
let his disease stop him from following in his family's
tradition of becoming a firefighter.
Growing up, he enjoyed participating in physical activities
such as hiking, camping and swimming. At the age of 16,
a year after his first ostomy surgery, Scott joined the
firefighter cadet program, beginning his journey of saving
lives. “To me, having an ostomy wasn't a big deal.
I never looked at my disease as an obstacle to overcome,
I just adapted to it.”
It was similar advice that two years later he gave to his
older sister to help her cope with her pending ostomy surgery.
“I told her that once you adjusted to living with
an ostomy, life would go back to normal. Ostomy surgery
would only limit your quality of life to the extent you
let it.”
Not letting his disease or surgeries limit him, Scott joined
the ranks of professional firefighters at the age of 22.
During his grueling training, which included extreme physical
tests, Scott's ostomy was never mentioned. In fact, members
of his class never even knew he was living with an ostomy
unless he chose to share the information with them.
A few years later he met and married his wife Marla, whom
he credits as being a strong motivator in his life. The
two have been married for 10 years and have two young children,
Matthew, 9 and Kaylene, 3.
Today, Scott lives in Enfield, CT and has been a firefighter
for 14 years. He is looking forward to continuing his work
with charities such as muscular dystrophy and getting more
involved in local community advocacy projects. He wants
to show other persons with an ostomy that surgery can be
a beginning rather than an end. “My disease has made
me appreciate life, especially my family, to the fullest.
I am thankful that such medical procedures were available
to me and that I have gone on to reach my dreams and lead
a full life. Now, I want to help others push through their
hardships.”
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