Author: couragetoshineblog

Courage To Shine ™, Turning Adversity to Triumph, Courage to Shine™ was founded to acknowledge, motivational and inspirational individuals and/or groups of patients whom have overcome congenital genitourinary birth defects and/or major urological surgeries in their childhood, and have the courage, strength and determination, to transform that adversity to triumph later in life. Courage to Shine™ is dedicated to the memories of Lisha Martinez of Utah and Adam Young of Maine, as a celebration of their short lives. Lisha & Adam lived their lives to the fullest and they were pure examples of what is means to have the Courage to Shine™ Courage To Shine ™ is the patient awards program of the Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community http://www.bladderexstrophy.com The Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community (ABC) is an international support network of individuals with bladder exstrophy (including classic exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, and epispadias), local parent exstrophy support groups. and health care providers working with patients and families living with bladder exstrophy. The Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community (ABC)

Mrs. Patsy Pope – Bladder Exstrophy – A Miracle Happened


Mrs. Patsy Pope l Bladder Exstrophy l A Miracle Happened l Urostomy l Courage to Shine l Oct 28 2022 – http://www.courage-to-shine.org

92 Year old Patsy Pope of Tennessee born with Bladder Exstrophy and all her medical challenges she has had in live with including a ureterosigmoidostomy then a ileal conduit – urostomy, and her life, marriage and children, Great Story and truly a Courage to Shine story,

Christy Humberd, Wrote:

I was blessed to visit with Mrs. Patsy today. She was born in 1930 with “bladder exstrophy” and has an amazing testimony! Doctors told her parents that her life would be short. But God had other plans! Take some time this weekend to listen to “A Miracle Happened” Click this link:👇 https://youtu.be/wp8J-ubR-gc

I am blessed to know Mrs. Patsy. She came up to me at church and gave me a written copy of her testimony. As soon as I was home, I read it and the tears flowed. This amazing Christian woman has been through a life with many difficulties. She has leaned on the Lord and at 92 years old she stills gives praise to Jesus!💖

Thank you Christy Humberd for the video:

Christy Humberd Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/christy.crowe

Mrs. Patsy Pope original video: https://youtu.be/wp8J-ubR-gc

If you would like to write Patsy do so by writing Patsy@courage-to-shine.org

Courage To Shine ™, Turning Adversity to Triumph,

Courage to Shine™ was founded to acknowledge, motivational and inspirational individuals and/or groups of patients whom have overcome congenital genitourinary birth defects and/or major urological surgeries in their childhood (but not limited too), and have the courage, strength and determination, to transform that adversity to triumph later in life.

Courage To Shine ™ website: http://www.courage-to-shine.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/couragetoshine/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Couragetoshine1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CourageToShine

Paula Erwin-Toth


Paula Erwin-Toth is from near Cleveland, Ohio, who not only was born with bladder exstrophy, but became a nurse and was the Director of Cleveland Clinic Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing School Email Paula at Paula@courage-to-shine.org

Dilara Arslan – A Scientist from Istanbul, Turkey


Dilara Arslan – A Scientist from Istanbul, Turkey By Dilara Arslan Hi Everybody, I am Dilara from Turkey.  I was born as likes some of you with a bladder exstrophy in 1991, İstanbul, Turkey.  To treatment of my bladder exstrophy was needed a series of operation since my born. I don’t remember my early ages….

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Damon Little


Damon Little Damon Little is a National Gospel and Grammy Winner Artist, I (Thomas Exler) ran into his at the United Ostomy Associations Conference.  During his childhood he has many surgeries and live with a colostomy for years. Damon Little: http://www.damonlittle.com/ Damon Little/ Be Alright-2019: https://youtu.be/3jFWCwXaA-c Courage To Shine™, Turning Adversity to Triumph, Courage to…

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Anja Christoffersen – Behind The Smile


Note: Anja Christoffersen released her book Behind The Smile in October of 2018.  You can view her website at Anja Christoffersen.  By Anja Christoffersen At 28 weeks of pregnancy, my parents found out I had a life-threatening condition that malformed most bodily systems. Devastated, my parents began a search for answers. There was no cause identified and…

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Paul Young – I’m Going to Talk About Me


Note: Paul Young wrote about his experiences for The Urological Foundation in the United Kingdom Paul Young is an award winning stand up comedian and writer who has written for shows including Top Gear, Miranda, and Not Going Out. He works under the stage name of Paul Kerensa. I’m Going to Talk About Me By Paul Young…

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Kaitlin Morris – Finding Bravery in Unexpected Places


Note: I first met Kaitlin, when I came to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to speak at the 2010 BEECH Australian Community Conference in June, 2010 – Thomas Exler YouTube: Mrs. Morris  Finding Bravery in Unexpected Places By Kaitlin Morris Hi there, I am Kaitlin (Sheedy) Morris,  I was born on April 15, 1992 with classic…

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Rachel Jury – Rocking2Stomas.co.uk


Rachel Jury of Rocking2Stomas.co.uk and her blog. By Rachel Jury My name is Rachel, and I am a 31-year-old woman from the UK who has been ill now for 10 years. I am a proud double ostomate with a permanent urostomy and ileostomy! It has been a journey, to say the least not just physically but…

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2018 Courage to Shine™ – Thomas McKeon Ludlow – June 9, 2018


13-Year-Old Tommy Ludlow Receives Courage To Shine™ Award Tommy Ludlow, the young recipient of the this year’s Courage to Shine award is already inspiring others to turn challenge into opportunity. Tommy received the honor, in part, because he is by all available accounts the first bladder exstrophy patient to hike to Mt. Everest Base Camp. The 12-day…

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2017 Courage to Shine™ – Spencer Daniel Kimbro – June 10 2017


2017 Courage to Shine™ Lisha Martinez & Adam Young Award – Spencer Daniel Kimbro – June 10 2017 Spencer Daniel Kimbro was presented with the 2017 Courage to Shine™ Lisha Marttinez & Adam Young Award on Saturday June 10, 2017. Spencer is a 16-year-old born with classic bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, spina birida, and many…

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2019 International Exstrophy Conference in Los Angeles, California, USA


2019 International Exstrophy Conference in Los Angeles, California, USA Save the dates now! The 2019 International Exstrophy Conference will be at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Friday, June, 28 through Sunday, June 30, 2018. More details to be announced in the coming months. Website: The Association for The Bladder Exstrophy – 2019 International Exstrophy Conference  More details…

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Tommy Ludlow – Climb up to Mt. Everest Base Camp!!


Tommy Ludlow – Climb up to Mt. Everest Base Camp!! 12-year-old Folsom boy climbs Mount Everest despite medical condition Tommy was born with exstrophy, a rare condition that occurs in about 1 of every 50,000 living births, according to the Urology Care Foundation. Author: Frances Wang Published: 3:13 PM PST January 2, 2018   As the Ludlow…

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Emily Kohlman – Turning Scars Into Beauty Marks


Note: In 2014 Emily wrote a blog for Courage to Shine™ the following is  an update to that blog from 2014 with can be found here:  Emily Broeren Kohlman – My Journey!!! Turning Scars Into Beauty Marks By Emily Kohlman My husband and I met at four years old at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, scheduled to…

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Kylee Hunter- You Can Call Me “Smiley Kylee”


You Can Call Me “Smiley Kylee”  By Kylee Hunter You know your life will be interesting when one of the first words out of the doctor’s mouth at your birth is, “I think that’s a bladder”. My name is Kylee Hunter, I’m almost 18, and I was born with bladder exstrophy, a rare birth defect that…

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