Continence and Personal Care
Greg Ryan with Senator Anne Urquhart , who spoke about IA / ARM in Parliament .
“ Revealing ‘ my secret ’ has become a truly wonderful feeling . Now I feel free to talk openly and contribute to spreading awareness without that fear of being exposed .”
friend ’ s place with no ready access to a toilet filled me with terror . Worst of all was the fear of incontinence in a moment of intimacy .”
Greg said the thought that anyone would know he had “ an issue which was so embarrassing and humiliating ” was too much for him to bear , so he learned to live life doing everything he could to protect his secret .
It wasn ’ t until last year that Greg decided to ‘ come out ’ publicly by writing his book .
“ My purpose was to alert everyone to the condition , encourage a dialogue and arrange better support for IA / ARM sufferers around the world ,” he said .
The reaction to Greg ’ s book and to his ONE in 5000 Foundation has been remarkable , with people all over the world , from Africa to Europe and the USA and across Asia sharing their stories and needs .
The Foundation has now become Greg ’ s life ’ s passion and he has travelled around the world to address medical conferences in Europe and the United States . Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart this year became the first politician to speak about IA / ARM in any Parliament in the world .
“ There ’ s been an amazing response to the book and to the Foundation , I even had Bert Newton tell me the book was one of the best autobiographies he ’ s ever read ,” Greg said .
Greg is now working with Associate Professor Sebastian King from the Royal Children ’ s Hospital to lobby and fundraise for a designated multi-disciplinary Colorectal Centre in Melbourne .
“ Everyone born with IA / ARM – and there are about two million of us alive today , along with our parents who did not have a choice about our fate – have to adapt and deal with the physical and mental consequences of this life-long condition every day ,” he said .
“ I am now talking to thousands of others carrying this burden , along with supporting parents and educating the medical fraternity of the physical and mental issues connected to the condition , which for so long has been viewed as a ‘ paediatric only ’ medical issue .
“ Revealing ‘ my secret ’ has become a truly wonderful feeling . Now I feel free to talk openly and contribute to spreading awareness without that fear of being exposed .” The proceeds from the sale of Greg ’ s book ‘ A Secret Life ’ go direct to the ONE in 5000 Foundation . Visit the website to find out more or order a copy of the book . www . onein5000foundation . org www . continence . org . au
44 continence and personal care linkonline . com . au