Bouncer ripped off woman's stoma bag because 'they thought it was a threat'

World

Bouncer ripped off woman's stoma bag because 'they thought it was a threat'

A Crohn’s disease sufferer has spoken out about the stigma of having stoma bag after a bouncer allegedly ripped it out thinking it was a threat.

NeQueshia Davis, 30, has also been accused of being a shoplifter by staff who thought the bag was something being hidden under her clothes.

The beautician, who goes by the name of Sha, enjoyed a healthy pregnancy when she had her first child, but began suffering unbearable abdominal pain in the weeks after the birth.

She was diagnosed with Crohn’s, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, and has endured eight surgeries and had a stoma fitted to help her resume a normal life. But she has experienced embarrassing situations because of her bag, as many people still don’t understand what it is and often assume the bulge under her top is something she is hiding.

‘I have had so many negative experiences in public with my stoma, especially in airports and night clubs,’ Sha, from Texas, US, said. ‘The work staff in the airports act like they’ve never seen or heard of a colostomy bag when I’m going through the security check points. ‘Some workers will look disgusted or will pat me down roughly without any care for my colostomy bag.

‘At night clubs the security guards have patted me down so rough and one time a security guard actually tore off my stoma bag after pulling at it so hard, then he questioned me on what it was.

‘It can also be embarrassing when I’m in quiet places and my stoma bag passes gas, or when it needs to be emptied and it looks like a balloon is sticking out of my shirt. ‘I’ve had shop workers stare at me when it’s been full because they think I’ve stolen something.’

Describing what it was like to be diagnosed with something she knew so little about, Sha said: ‘When I was diagnosed I felt very confused and in so much pain. ‘Being diagnosed with Crohn’s has changed my life from the everyday living with a colostomy bag, to the way I eat and learning to feel comfortable with all of the changes.

‘At one stage before my stoma was fitted my condition got so serious that I had to have emergency surgery because my intestines were so inflamed that they were causing a blockage, so my food couldn’t go through smoothly.

‘That caused me so much pain in my stomach and I was vomiting as I couldn’t keep my food down, which caused me to lose a tremendous amount of weight.’ Despite her diagnosis, she is still very grateful for the life she is able to lead, and she doesn’t let it stop her from living each day as it comes.