"Bag Lady Mama” Is Here To Show You The Reality Of Life With An Ileostomy Bag
Krystal Miller hopes her blog will raise awareness about bowel disease. [Photo: Facebook/bagladymama Krystal Miller]
Posing happily in front of the camera, the picture could be of any mum-to-be showing off her growing baby bump. Look a little closer though, and you can just make out the outline of an ileostomy bag underneath her left hand.
But the woman in the photo isn’t trying to hide it. In fact, she’s started a Facebook blog to share empowering photos that reveal the reality of her life with the bag.
Aged just 15, doctors diagnosed Krystal Miller, from Perth with Crohn’s disease, a condition that causes inflammation of the bowel, including the large and small intestine. Now 32, and a mother of two, she’s hoping her blog, Bag Lady Mama, will help raise awareness about bowel disease which she describes as an ‘invisible illness’.
And it seems to be doing the trick. Since starting the blog just a week ago she’s received 841 likes and countless positive comments about how her selfies are helping to break down stereotypes.
‘The Bag Lady’ Krystal shares an underwear selfie. [Photo: Facebook/bagladymama Krystal Miller]
After undergoing surgery just shy of her 22nd birthday to have her large intestine, some of her small intestine and her anus removed, Krystal has had an ileostomy bag in its place ever since. But though no doubt lifechanging, Krystal wants to prove it doesn’t have to be life-limiting. She hopes that by sharing her story she can help empower others with a similar condition and raise awareness about the reality of life with a bag.
‘Just because you don’t look sick doesn’t mean you’re not,’ Krystal told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I want to be a famous advocate for “bag ladies” like myself. And let them know they can live a full life, they can have children, that’s a big thing for women.’
This is what body confidence really looks like! [Photo: Facebook/bagladymama Krystal Miller]
Krystal with her husband, Shannon. [Photo: Facebook/bagladymama Krystal Miller]
Since her surgery, Krystal has taken part in various charity events to help encourage other people with ileostomy bags to wear underwear and swimwear that makes them feel body confident.
She’s walked the catwalk wearing nothing but a bikini and she regularly takes underwear selfies, which she hopes will encourage acceptance to those living with bowel conditions that result in them having to wear a bag.
‘And have hope it will get better,’ she adds.
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