"The Self-Cath Shadow Buddy is an excellent educational tool to help children and adults understand the process of intermittent self-catheterization. Available in both girls and boys and in three skin tones.
Call the Hollister Consumer Programs Team at 1-888-740-8999 to request your Shadow Buddy."
Shadow Buddies from Hollister – United States

"Now available exclusively from Hollister, the ostomy Shadow Buddy doll can help children through the experience of ostomy surgery. The Shadow Buddy doll was designed by the mother of a pediatric ostomy patient as a "special friend" for her son. The ostomy Shadow Buddy is a muslin doll that has a stoma just like the child who is undergoing ostomy surgery. For each child, the ostomy Shadow Buddy is someone who is "just like me." For health-care professionals, the Shadow Buddy is an excellent educational tool for both children and parents.
Shadow Buddies are available in several different styles:

A new "Senior Buddy," with gray hair, is also available for older ostomy patients!"
Shadow Buddies from Hollister – Canada

For discussing issues relevant to ostomates and people with diversions between the ages of 11 and 18.
UOAA Teen Network

For parents of children who have or will have an ostomy or related surgery.
Parents Discussion

"My parents say to me now that their biggest worry about the surgery was that someday I would turn around and say to them "why did you let them do this to me?" I never have."
Shaz was just 10 years old when her parents had to make the decision for her to undergo ileostomy surgery.
Now an adult she says
"I have to say that whilst I would, of course, prefer not to have an ileostomy, I am greatful for every day of life my stoma has given back to me and do not regret it for one minute."
Read her story here:
Shaz's story

If you have a child with Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, or any other Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Welcome, we are glad you are here.
Support for Parents

"One One of the most difficult things about being a child with a chronic condition is the isolation of being different. The loss of ability to function as a normal child – to run and play and skip and roughhouse – robs these children of normal lives and true friends. Family most certainly helps, but it's friends that share the fears and frustrations and confidences. Friends just like them.

Shadow Buddies^TM have been designed to be both "The friend like me" and a teaching tool. Working with medical professionals, Shadow Buddies^TM have been designed as warm, huggable Buddies for boys and girls that take the place of friends who cannot be around when needed most. Shadow Buddies^TM are also condition specific, demonstrating anatomically the physical results of treating a particular condition.

Shadow Buddies ^TM may be used as a psychological bridge to span the gap between treatment and awareness. When seen first on their "Buddy", a scar, catheter or even a stoma has far less impact. A teaching tool as well, Shadow Buddies ^TM are useful as a means of demonstrating basic care.

Shadow Buddies ^TM help children, their siblings and family cope with their condition. This in turn makes it easier for health professionals to provide appropriate, successful treatment..
Shadow Buddies

The Guide is split into Chapters, which are designed read like a book, or as individual essays. The majority of the guide is also available to read offline from the downloads page on Ostomyland.

Jason welcomes emails if you have comments about the guide, or suggestions on future chapters.

This link takes you directly to the following Chapter
Ostomyland Lifestyle Guide – Returning to Work

The Guide is split into Chapters, which are designed read like a book, or as individual essays. The majority of the guide is also available to read offline from the downloads page on Ostomyland.

Jason welcomes emails if you have comments about the guide, or suggestions on future chapters.

This link takes you directly to the following Chapter
Ostomyland Lifestyle Guide – Sports & Swimming