Doug Graham

CANADA  

Born in Ottawa, Doug Graham grew up passionate about sports. He played football in high school and rugby during his nine and half years in the Canadian Army. After leaving the army in 1969, Doug returned to school, earned diplomas in Occupational Health and Safety and Labour Relations, married his sweetheart, Astrid, and became a dad and grandad. Everything in Doug’s life was falling into place and he was excited about the opportunities yet to come.

Then in 1996, he began having abdominal pain, lost 75 pounds and underwent emergency ileostomy surgery. As Doug recovered, he was anxious and frustrated as he wondered what life would be like with an ostomy.

After his surgery, Doug and Astrid used the Internet to find helpful information about living with an ileostomy. They came across United Ostomy Support Group of Ottawa and decided to attend the International Ostomy Association (IOA) conference in 1997.

At the IOA conference, Doug was very impressed with the attendees and their passion to help others. On their trip home, Doug and Astrid agreed to commit to helping others. In 2000, Doug became the director of the United Ostomy Association of Ottawa, then secretary in 2002, vice president in 2004 and eventually president, a position he has held for the past four years. Doug also has taken on the responsibility of president of the North and Central American and Caribbean Ostomy Association while Astrid serves as the president of Friends of Ostomates Worldwide (Canada).

“When I was sick, I was not aware of ostomy support groups and experienced a lot of anxiety thinking I was alone,” said Doug. “Then I met with people who experienced what I had and realized that I was not restricted from anything. I learned so much from having an ostomy and I want as many patients as possible to find support like I did.”