Gordo's Gang of Maniacs

Ostomy Armor in Action! Welcome to Gordo’s Gang of Maniacs!!!

Here you will find stories from ostomates doing all sorts of things. You may not do any of the activities below, but if normal people with an ostomy can skydive and ride extreme bikes without injury, then everyone else can safely drive a car, buckle a seatbelt or belt over their stoma, play with kids, go shopping or just relax in safety and comfort.

James Gordon Scott – Gordo is the first maniac on this list because of his past in Special Forces, his active lifestyle with motorcycles, grandchildren, climbing, Ostomy Armor, Blackhawk helicopter mechanic, Guffey Fire Department fire fighter, the inventor of Ostomy Armor and the reason for this web site. His stoma doesn’t stop him doing anything…it’s the back injuries and other health problems that prevent him from swinging through the trees.

Pstews: Paul is happy to be lifting weights safely again, thanks to Ostomy Armor.

In doubt? Watch this: Weight lifting with an ostomy

Nathan Deas: Nathan is a former Marine who includes skydiving and motorcycle sports as his hobbies. He has been super excited to continue his exploits uninjured.

Jamie Mills is a police officer in the UK. He is also a family man and takes his lovely children swimming at the pool and beach.

Lela K Won a Strong (W0) Man competition wearing Ostomy Armor! Lela took part in CrossFit and Strongman for 3 years with the Armor. As you can see in the right picture, she experienced NO HERNIAS, despite this:

“Lifting a 600# yoke, deadlifting a 350# barbell, or shouldering a 160# stone (as in my photo) were all safely within work capacity. ” Lela K.

Mark Stoots took to Facebook with his comment:

Image may contain: one or more people, cloud, sky and outdoor

Mark Stoots‎Ostomy Armor

October 13

Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do as an Ostomate!! Currently representing my Ostomy Armor at PA Skirmish Paintball… My life is so much more free and enjoyable since I started wearing this product almost a year ago. I am a customer for life, not a paid spokesperson!! This product Ostomy Armor WILL change your life!!!!! — feeling thankful at Skirmish Paintball.

Andy H. – Andy was a competition cross-country bicycle rider in the UK. He and his friends spent some time looking for a product that would help him with his ileostomy so he could continue his life and, finally, with Ostomy Armor™ he was able to safely compete. (Sadly, Andy passed away. We were given permission to use his pictures in the hope that it will inspire others to live a full life.)

Tom K. – Tom does all manner of video work in Australia, going into some places where protection of his stoma is a priority; Ostomy Armor™ does the trick. Tom assures us the the video equipment is not light and has to be carried most of the way.

Steve L. – Steve is an Oceanographer Emeritus with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, who is active in martial arts, particularly Karate, and purchased his Ostomy Armor™ to be able to continue with the life he had before his stoma.

Sandy H. – Sandy has been in Law Enforcement for 26 years, whose hobbies are very active ones: dirt bike riding, working out, fishing, jet skiing, boogie boarding, and she loves being outdoors. She was never going to give up on her active lifestyle, but now, with Ostomy Armor™ she is able to do it without worry over potential damage to her stoma.

Andrew D. – Andrew is a 47-year-old father, and ostomate, who recently joined his 15-year-old son in the sport of Fencing. With Ostomy Armor™, Andrew’s time with his son is improved.

SANDY H.
March 2010

From Officer Sandy…
Gordon,
Thank you so much for your ostomy armor. Without this product, I would currently be out of a job and probably medically retired. I am a police officer of 24 years and love my job. Last year, I thought my career had ended due to an emergency operation. I had lost my battle to ulcerative colitis and ended up with an ileostomy. Your armor has allowed me to wear my issued equipment. I can now endure the physical training required to maintain my job. The Ostomy Armor allows me to wear my full uniform along with my issued gun belt fully loaded with my equipment. My belt is approximately 15 lbs and sits directly on the armor over my stoma all day. I can sit, run, crouch and crawl with no pain. My stoma is completely protected and functions as it should.

Like everyone, cops like to play, too. Since the surgery, I have continued to ride dirt bikes through the woods. And yes, I have had a few wrecks and each time there has been no injuries except my pride. Like falling off a horse… you get back on and go again. My bike weighs approximately 157 lbs. and I have had to pick it up and at no time have I had to worry about receiving a hernia from lifting this weight. Without the armor, I would hate to think of what type of injuries I might have sustained. I have been able to work out in the gym with no problem at all and never worry about the armor being seen since it is very low profile. I can not wait for it to get warmer because I love to Jet-Ski and plan to attack the lakes as the water begins to get warmer.

Gordon, from the bottom of my heart thank you for giving me my freedom back, the opportunity to retire from my job with dignity and allowing me to have as much fun as I can endure! Your armor has taken away the fear of injury and of having any type of leak or blow out while in public or while on duty. Thank you again for such a great product!

Respectfully,
Sgt. H…
A. Police Department
United States

March 20, 2010
Hi Gordon,
The weight is great… super lite and extremely comfortable. Love the fact that there is kevlar in the mix of the panel! I love the way you think! The new armor is so comfortable you almost forget that it is on. I really like the new material you used to make the belt. It is extremely soft against the skin and wears well. I like how it feels on the skin because the waist of my pants ride right on top of the Ostomy belt. I am giving the belt two thumbs up!!! As for the overall design of the panel, I really liked how it was curved along the bottom. For those of us with an ileostomy the new design has allowed me much more use of my bag especially when I am sitting for quite a while.
On 03/19/2010 a group of my friends and I went out to a popular riding area known for its challenging trails. The acreage on this facility is over 3000 acres and has terrain that is very rocky, numerous creeks to ride through and prides itself on its difficult trails. The terrain is very unforgiving if one should fall… rocks galore… big ones… small ones and very hard ones! I had just gotten a brand new race bike, a Honda CRF150RB. I had only been on the bike for about 20 minutes and am somewhat a novice at riding much less handling this bike. Our group leader decided that it was time that we tackled the trail. Of course, not admitting any fear… away we went. Life was good until we came upon a section that required you to cross a very rocky area, go into and cross about a 8 foot creek which was flowing with about 2 feet of water in it and then immediately ascend up another rocky hill which was approximately 30 feet in length at about a 45 degree angle before topping out on a level trail.

The first rider went… no problem. It was my turn. I was nervous… but sucked it up and went. I went to enter the creek, which later I observed was probably the worst place to enter. In my mind, I was going to drop off a two foot rock cliff into the creek and then make my way across the creek and ascend up the hill. Sounded pretty easy and I had convinced myself I could do it. Mind over matter! Instead… disaster happened! I had accelerated way too fast and flew off the rock doing a wheelie. Both machine and I shot straight into the air and went airborne… as the saying goes… what goes up… must come down… and boy does it come down! I crashed hard into the creek onto a rock bottom. My bike wheelie out from underneath me and landed on its back wheel right by my leg in two feet of water.

Needless to say, it was a very hard crash, it was pure instinct… I reached down to see if it was still in place. I was worried that it had been jarred loose and wondered if I still had a stoma. The armor was right where is was supposed to be. I was sopping wet, pride bruised beyond belief and I was extremely sore and cold. I had to climb back on a bike and ride back. We made it back to camp. I immediately changed into dry gear because I was very cold and wet. While changing, I checked my stoma and the area around the Ostomy plate. The stoma was untouched and is fine. The area around the plate is slightly bruised and sore but not too bad. My Ostomy Armor™ is drying out, not a scratch on it and I just put another Ostomy Armor™ on… with my lifestyle I have more than one! Recalling that crash, I was submerged in water along with my Ostomy Armor™. It is amazing to me that the armor stayed in place and did not shift.

It’s a miracle that it was not jarred loose. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I had not had my Ostomy Armor™ on, I would had to have made a trip to the emergency room. Instead of nursing a bruised ego and some bruises on my arms and legs… I believe there would have been some serious damage done to my stoma! SandyHit Thanks to the Ostomy Armor™… all I needed to do was change my clothes and we continued to enjoy the rest of the day riding and laughing at my attempt to simply cross a creek.
Gordon, Thank you so much for your product. It is times like this when you realize how important your armor is and how it allows you to be normal and just enjoy life! Not only did your armor save me from injury but it allowed everyone to have a great day and just have fun without any drama brought to the incident.
Thank you so much!!!Sandy H .

Warren F. – Warren was also Special Forces, then moved into law enforcement on leaving the military. Because he maintains an active lifestyle, Warren purchased Ostomy Armor™ and improved his ability to enjoy his life.