Home > Active Ostomates > Team Colostomy UK Rugby League > Rugby League stories > View from the other side > Watching him play rugby again is exhilarating – Emma Fisher’s story

Emma Fisher has been cheering on husband Steve from the side lines since he made his debut for us back in 2019. She explains the challenges they have faced as a family and what playing for us has meant for their family

“Ste had always been a sporty person whether that be watching or partaking, I’ve stood on many a rugby side line freezing watching him!

When he suddenly became ill with Ulcerative Colitis and very quickly needed Ileostomy surgery our lives were truly turned upside down. We tragically lost Ste’s Mum a month prior to this, so not only was he seriously ill in hospital, we then lost his Auntie too, so we were also  trying to navigate the path of grief, for us and our children.

During one of Ste’s more difficult times when he was in intensive care we wrote a bucket list of things he wanted to do. When I look back now at what he faced, and  with such bravery during those months in hospital it’s truly heart breaking.

I am so proud of him.  His courage, bravery and confidence to talk about Colitis and the work colostomy UK does has really surprised me, he is usually so quiet in nature. On that list was to play a game of rugby league again, that is how we found our Colostomy UK family.

Being part of a community and team, and having such a close knit support network outside of our family has been pivotal to the mindset and focus Ste now has facing life with a bag. Watching him play rugby again is exhilarating (and frightening!) it makes me and our children so so proud every single time he runs out!!”