Gerry McGregor

Gerry with John Stordard	Finding Life Hard

Well where do I start? Well I am 46, live in the UK, separated and have my 4 teenage kids living with me. How have I been for the past 46 years? How does anyone feel when they get to that age and have 4 kids? Slightly ragged, going grey and wondering what I have been doing for the past 46 years but also thinking things have not been too bad at all. Might of been better, might of been worse, in other words quiet normal.

	I was born in '52, was diagnosed with Hirschsprung at about 9 months and given a colostomy. Had two resections and my stoma reversed at 4
From then I went onto a regime of enemas, then suppositories until finally Senokot tablets on there own. I started off living in Sunderland in the North East of England (the home of good football) and ended my childhood in the Scottish highlands. Because of where I lived, if I wanted to continue my education at the age of 16, I had to leave home to go to college in Aberdeen.

	The Best Dressed man at the Wedding
Honest I was sober - I think

From then on to a large extent I was on my own. Made one or two mistakes but what adolescent doesn't. I ended up in hospitals a few times with impactions that needed clearing out. Students will be students and I did most things that students in the late 60's early 70's did. From then a started working in London with a computer company working my up and through companies until I am now a senior manager with a computer software company.

I married 21 years ago and during that time had 4 kids, Kris 19, Emma 17, Claire 15 and Michelle 15. None of my kids do have the problem that I have, nor do my 5 brothers and sisters, my numerous nephews, great nephews, nieces and great nieces. For all of the time that I can remember I have been able to do basically what I have wanted to, as well as using my HD as an excuse to do things that I did not want to do. So far as food is concerned, I am a food addict particularly of Asian cooking. Give me a good curry any day.

OK a few years ago things got worse for me. I started to have bouts of constipation and diarrhoea, sometimes both at the same time. In January 1998 I had to have another resection and for a few months while it healed an illeostimy. The illeostomy I found hard to cope with initially but I survived. It took about 18 months out of my life but I feel better now than I have done for a few years.

Relaxing	McGregor Clan
Me and my Buddy Samuel

I hear people say I have had a hard life etc etc etc. Maybe I have had but I don't think I have, just look at the pictures above. Do I look as if I am having a hard time of it? I have a good job, 4 lovely kids, a home, family and many happy memories of a full life. My kids are getting older now and so I start to think more of myself. I am now thinking what I am going to do from now on and those thoughts are positives. At the young age of 49 I have got engaged.

If you want hang around and see what happens, I fully intend to.