Ostomy Foundation

01/01/2026

Happy New Year fellow ostomates! The Ostomy Foundation is collectively thankful for all of you and we look forward to supporting all of you along your journeys for another year! Here's to hoping that 2026 will be filled with heartwarming moments and positive breakthroughs!

12/17/2025

Hello fellow ostomates! We are planning support groups for 2026. Please comment your time zone, your preferred time slot, and conversation topics of interest. I will try to accommodate a few different times throughout the week to choose from. More exciting updates to follow!

12/14/2025

We are all so privileged for being able to play a small role to help contribute to such a great community event.
Looking forward to helping next year

Thank you all for coming to celebrate another magical Parade of Lights. Nights like this remind us why our community is so special—because when we come together, we create something truly unforgettable.

First, I’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mayor Pete Bass for his leadership, support, and unwavering commitment to making events like this shine. Thank you for always championing community spirit and helping make New Milford a place where traditions like this continue to thrive.

A heartfelt thank-you also goes to the New Milford Commission on the Arts. Your dedication, creativity, and countless hours of planning have brought this combination of caroling and parade to life. Your vision and teamwork help create an evening that is joyful, bright, and beautifully organized.

We are also sincerely grateful to our generous sponsors—FSM Services, McCormack Electric LLC, Fire Control Service Co., Inc., and BuiltRight Industries. Your support makes this event possible each year, and we appreciate your partnership and investment in our community.

I’d like to take a moment to recognize several individuals and groups whose efforts behind the scenes ensure this parade runs smoothly and safely:

Lt. Ryan Delaney, Melissa Colville, Al Tani and CERT, Mark Haber, and Fire Police Captain David Golembeski, for the countless hours of coordination, dedication, and hands-on work that make every detail come together.
Our Judges- Chris Cosgrove, Council Members Paul Murphy, Tom Esposito, and Katy Francis, and Mayor Bass with their significant others for judging for us!
We also want to extend a very special thank-you to our Lineup Crew and Fire Police leads—Patrick Maguire, Chris Thorndike, Olivia Schultz, Dave Lang, Craig Raymond, Glen Miller, Bernie Meehan, Jerry Romaniello, and all the dedicated members from Ridgefield, Brookfield, Burlington, and New Milford, who came out in support of this event. Your professionalism, coordination, and commitment ensure the parade flows safely and smoothly, and we are incredibly grateful for your contributions.
New Milford Ambulance and the New Milford Police Department, for providing Unified Command, support, and assistance to keep everyone safe throughout the event.
Our DPW team, for setting up the barricades and ensuring the parade route is secure and ready.
Candlewood Valley Country Club, for providing the carts that help our team move efficiently across the route and staging areas.
The Ostomy Foundation, for supplying the porta potties and helping us maintain comfort and accessibility for all our guests.
Paul Symanski, for the signage that helps guide participants, spectators, and staff throughout the event.
Faye, Flavia, and Christine, for the amazing food and catering—your delicious meals keep our team energized and ready to go all night long.
If I left anyone out please know that I send my sincere thank you for all you did!
Finally, thank you to all our volunteers, parade participants, performers, local organizations, and every person who contributed time, talent, and energy. We did this for our community—the families who come out year after year, the children whose excitement inspires us, and everyone here tonight who continues to support and celebrate what makes New Milford shine.

And now… for our trophies:

Best Appearing Fire Apparatus- Gaylordsville Fire Department

Best Jeep Award- The Grinch.

This year, after five years of judging and support, I am proud to announce that the Mayor’s Choice Award will now be named the Peter Bass Mayor’s Choice Award. This award goes to FSM SERVICES.

The Best Appearing Commercial Award is named in honor of our friend and supporter of this event, the late Ellen Buccetti. Her memory lives every year with this special recognition, which goes to Candlewood Marina.

And finally, The David Lathrop Best Overall Trophy named in honor of the Late David Lathrop who gave so many years to this parade, goes to The Litchfield Irish American Cultural Club!

We are grateful for all who support this event annually. From all of us at Water Witch Hose Company, we are grateful to serve such an amazing community. Merry Christmas New Milford, and here’s to an amazing 2026!

- Chief Sean Delaney

12/12/2025

Come on out what a fun night it will be🎄🎅🎉

12/11/2025

Stars of Tomorrow: Featuring Chris Amaya

Today's story is about a very special person from Florida who I have personally come to know, love, and admire. Her name is Chris Amaya.

Chris lives with daily, severe chronic pain from an exorbitant list of diagnosis that began with stage 4 endometriosis including but not limited to pelvic floor dysfunction, tricomparmental prolapse, myofacial pelvic pain syndrome, obstructed defecation disorder, redundant colon, pr*****ed colon and volvus (twisted colon), paralyzed colon, necrosis of small bowel from pr*****ed stoma, osler webber rendu, ITP (low platelets), and diversion colitis. She is currently being treated at Shands Hospital in Gainsville, Florida.

Despite the painful degree of her illness, Chris does not see her diagnosis as a death sentence. She says she sees it as a blessing. For a long time, Chris lived in severe, yet unexplained pain but after finding a competent and caring provider, she was able to be properly diagnosed and treated.

Chris has joined several different ostomy support groups and as helpful as they were, there were times when she just needed tips and tricks for the ongoing leaks she was experiencing. Since she had extra time on her hands and she saw a need, she decided to create her own group called "Ostomy Tips and Tricks" in order to help others better manage their stomas as well as learn from others-what she created expanded and developed into something way beyond anything she had ever imagined. With over 6,000 members, "Ostomy Tips and Tricks" has become a beautiful community of ostomates and family members of ostomates who support and lean on one another.

On some of her most difficult days, a quote that keeps her feeling encouraged is, "There is a light at the end of the tunnel". This quote describes my view of Chris as well because her vibrant, loving and fun personality always shines through despite what she is enduring on a day to day basis.

Bowling and painting are two of Chris's favorite hobbies. (One of her most recent paintings titled "A winter's day at home" is my favorite) She is so talented! Her ability to find beauty during dark times and her love for people and animals is endearing and inspiring. She is someone who exemplifies the character of our Stars of Tomorrow program and I am so proud and honored to know her!

Sincerely,
A fellow ostomate

12/09/2025

Our foundation has a program called "Stars of Tomorrow" and to be honest, as a volunteer that writes articles on social media, I struggled with whether or not to share about my own story because my goal is to empower others and help them realize the light that they truly bring into this world despite having an ostomy. After praying about it, I came to the conclusion that I'd share a small part of my journey in hopes that it will inspire others to become the best version of themselves that they can be because having an ostomy is NOT the end.
I have had my colostomy since 2021 due to a genetic connective tissue disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that inhibited the function of many vital organs over the years. There was a time where I wondered what my purpose was and if I'd ever be able to do it from a wheelchair...the truth is, there are times I still struggle to accept some of my physical limitations but 99% of the time, I am grateful and laser focused on caring for others in different capacities while heavily relying on my faith because my faith, is my identity. What I do and what I accomplish means nothing to me without a firm foundation in my faith because ultimately, I am merely human and the only legacy I care to leave behind is my faith, my character, and the amount of love I had for others while I was here.
In the picture I attached from many years ago, I am standing strong on two feet, ready to conquer the world....now I believe I am still that girl with a wheelchair and a few added medical obstacles. My ostomy believe it or not, is not entirely an obstacle in my opinion. It is now simply a part of my routine. Learning what products worked for me and how to use them gave me confidence and the unsightly, prosthetic device on my abdomen no longer defined who I was. It DID however, equip me with new tools to help others in ways I never imagined in similar circumstances.
Life is difficult at times for everyone but the possibilities of how we press forward with our circumstances are endless! As a mentor, friend, and fellow ostomate, I LOVE my ostomy. As strange as it sounds, it's true. This life saving surgery helped me branch out and help others in ways I never knew possible and the gift of a second chance at life can never be taken for granted.

12/09/2025

Please donate to the Ostomy foundation

12/09/2025

I got over 50 reactions on my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉

12/07/2025

✨ Community Give-Back Spotlight ✨

The Ostomy Foundation is proud to support our community by providing facilities for attendees and participants of the Water Witch Hose Co. #2 Annual Parade of Lights this Saturday, December 13th in New Milford.

A heartfelt thank-you to Fire Chief Sean Delaney and all the members at Water Witch Hose No.2 New Milford Mayor - Pete Bass for the opportunity to help where we’re needed.

Thank you to Tom Quigg, President at Wheels for Wheels for Logistics support.

Special appreciation goes to Murphy Heating & Cooling located at 8 South Main Street for serving as one of our host locations for attendees and participants.
Additional facilities will also be available behind Town Hall for attendees and at the New Milford Sewer Commission (WPCA) for parade participant staging.

We’re honored to be part of this cherished New Milford tradition and proud to give back to the community we serve. 🚒🎄✨

Ostomy Foundation New Fairfield/Sherman - Our Town Town of New Milford, CT Brookfield CT Business & Happenings The Kent, CT Community page New Milford Police Department

12/05/2025

As part of the New Milford Goat Days Celebration
May 15-17, 2026,
the Ostomy Foundation in New Milford, CT will host a Moonlight 5K Road Race on May 15th, 2026
Sign up NOW!

09/05/2025

05/16/2025

If you are in CT stop by this weekend
We are here !!

Give the ultimate gift of adventure with a Horizon Bound Adventures hot air balloon ride gift card. Perfect for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike!