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
Continence and
Personal Care
Greg Ryan with Senator Anne Urquhart,
who spoke about IA/ARM in Parliament.
“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
“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.”
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
friend’s place with no ready access to support for IA/ARM sufferers around of the physical and mental issues
a toilet filled me with terror. Worst of the world,” he said. connected to the condition, which
all was the fear of incontinence in a
moment of intimacy.”
Greg said the thought that anyone
for so long has been viewed as a
‘paediatric only’ medical issue.
been remarkable, with people all over “Revealing ‘my secret’ has
would know he had “an issue which the world, from Africa to Europe and become a truly wonderful feeling.
was so embarrassing and humiliating” the USA and across Asia sharing their Now I feel free to talk openly and
was too much for him to bear, so he stories and needs. contribute to spreading awareness
learned to live life doing everything
he could to protect his secret.
It wasn’t until last year that Greg
The Foundation has now become
Greg’s life’s passion and he has
without that fear of being exposed.”
The proceeds from the sale of
travelled around the world to address Greg’s book ‘A Secret Life’ go direct
decided to ‘come out’ publicly by medical conferences in Europe and to the ONE in 5000 Foundation. Visit
writing his book. the United States. Tasmanian Senator the website to find out more or order
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