{"id":7304,"date":"2026-05-06T10:30:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T10:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/?p=7304"},"modified":"2026-05-06T10:40:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T10:40:38","slug":"what-is-hirschsprungs-disease-and-how-has-it-impacted-me-by-rachel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/what-is-hirschsprungs-disease-and-how-has-it-impacted-me-by-rachel\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Hirschsprung&#8217;s Disease and how has it impacted me? | by Rachel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-947\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#6e6760\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6ed6cb9dcdfbea9d5bd2078ba0ed7581 text-center lg:text-center\">What is Hirschsprung&#8217;s Disease and how has it impacted me? | by Rachel<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-8    lg:h-24\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Most people have heard of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as a reason for needing stoma surgery. But far fewer have heard of Hirschsprung\u2019s Disease (HD): a rare condition that can have a life-changing impact from birth.<br><br>For me, it\u2019s not just something I\u2019ve learned about, it\u2019s something I\u2019ve lived through. In this blog, I share my experience of Hirschsprung\u2019s Disease and how it has shaped my life.<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-4    lg:h-12\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bfc554c0bf707fd5799744f0d9b890bc\"><strong>What is it?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-purple-checkmark\">\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong>Short-segment disease (most common):<\/strong>\u00a0affects only the rectum and the lowest part of the colon (sigmoid colon). This accounts for approximately 80% of cases (per zero to finals).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong>Long-segment disease:<\/strong>\u00a0the aganglionosis extends beyond the sigmoid colon into a longer segment of the colon. It is less common (about 20% of cases) and often more severe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong>Total colonic aganglionosis (TCA):<\/strong>\u00a0The entire colon is affected, accounting for around 5-10% of children with the disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong>Total intestinal aganglionosis:<\/strong>\u00a0a rare, severe form where nerve cells are missing from the entire large and small intestines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong>Small intestinal Hirschsprung\u2019s Disease:<\/strong>\u00a0nerve cells are missing from the rectum, colon, and the end of the small intestine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-68c2366fe9d263ca5629656ebc2a0919\"><strong>What are the symptoms?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6cd5beb8b8a43b8ceff878d0fbbb1330\"><strong>Do all HD patients have a stoma?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5c64c4d6c185f459e0d65fedc48e929f\"><strong>What support is out there?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list is-style-purple-checkmark\">\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">Patients in the UK are usually under the care of a <strong>surgical team<\/strong> throughout childhood, with check-ups continuing into adulthood. For babies and young children, stoma nurses will oversee stoma care, and if reversal surgery has been performed, support is still needed to help manage ongoing symptoms. Medications to slow down toileting, and sodium chloride, can be prescribed if the patient struggles to retain fluids and electrolytes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirschsprungsdisease.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-purple-600-color\">Hirschsprung\u2019s Disease UK<\/mark><\/a><\/strong> is a source of support started by a group of parents, with the vision of creating a hub for parents and carers who hear about the condition for the first time and want to learn more, while feeling less alone. Look out for updates on their social media pages for resources and support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">If <strong>social media<\/strong> is your thing, there are support groups on Facebook all over the world where people ask questions and share tips and life experience. Patients also use Instagram to document life with the condition, like myself, and are often willing to chat and answer questions you may have.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCkKqvFoiCkUe94WaBntLzUQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-purple-600-color\">Tom\u2019s Hirschsprung\u2019s Podcast<\/mark><\/a><\/strong> is a fantastic resource full of stories from patients, with Tom starting the podcast to connect with others living with the condition. You might even see some familiar faces there too.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dc01b6d420daf4b8fad712d74a4a9b36\">Please remember&#8230;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"background-block relative overflow-hidden\" style=\"background-color: #d4bdd9\">\n        <div class=\"relative z-20\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-8    lg:h-8\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5bceff0020fbb751f2cba45621b563c9 text-center lg:text-center\" style=\"color:#000000\">Want to join our ambassador community?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-cd76affd wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-btn-secondary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/become-an-ambassador\/\"><strong>Apply now<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-8    lg:h-8\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-8    lg:h-8\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div>\n    <div class=\"stories-carousel\">\n        <div class=\"glide__track\" data-glide-el=\"track\">\n            <ul class=\"glide__slides\">\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/running-beyond-limits-with-a-stoma-by-kevin\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213.jpg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213-1024x741.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213-150x109.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213-768x556.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213-1536x1112.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213-600x434.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/06\/IMG_7956-scaled-e1772450860213.jpg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Running beyond limits with a stoma | by Kevin<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">5 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/long-haul-flights-with-a-stoma-by-summer\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-600x600.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0535-scaled-e1779109087825.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Long haul flights with a stoma | by Summer<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">5 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/how-my-stoma-routine-has-changed-over-time-by-rachel\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-255x300.jpeg 255w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-870x1024.jpeg 870w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-127x150.jpeg 127w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-768x904.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-1305x1536.jpeg 1305w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-1740x2048.jpeg 1740w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974-600x706.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_9630-scaled-e1778063616974.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">How my stoma routine has changed over time | by Rachel<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">5 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/what-is-hirschsprungs-disease-and-how-has-it-impacted-me-by-rachel\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552-287x300.jpeg 287w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552-978x1024.jpeg 978w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552-143x150.jpeg 143w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552-768x804.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552-1467x1536.jpeg 1467w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552-600x628.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_0833-scaled-e1778062502552.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">What is Hirschsprung&#8217;s Disease and how has it impacted me? | by Rachel<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">5 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/travelling-sri-lanka-with-a-stoma-by-summer\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454-300x233.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454-1024x795.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454-150x116.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454-768x596.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454-1536x1192.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454-600x466.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/IMG_2234-scaled-e1778061045454.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Travelling Sri Lanka with a stoma | by Summer<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">4 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/my-trip-to-disneyland-with-a-stoma-by-phillipa\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985.jpg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985-1024x911.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985-150x134.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985-768x684.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985-600x534.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/05\/81e113ad-e8a8-4e20-9d60-c1979ab17f79-e1777632220985.jpg 1365w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">My trip to Disneyland with a stoma | by Phillipa<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">7 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"glide-navigation-wrapper\">\n            <a href=\"\/gb\/blog\/\" class=\"btn btn-gradient w-full text-center lg:w-fit\">Explore all stories and advice<\/a>\n            <div class=\"glide-navigation\">\n                <div class=\"bullets\" data-glide-el=\"controls[nav]\">\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 0\" data-glide-dir=\"=0\"><\/button>\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 1\" data-glide-dir=\"=1\"><\/button>\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 2\" data-glide-dir=\"=2\"><\/button>\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 3\" data-glide-dir=\"=3\"><\/button>\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 4\" data-glide-dir=\"=4\"><\/button>\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 5\" data-glide-dir=\"=5\"><\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n                <div class=\"controls\" data-glide-el=\"controls\">\n                    <button aria-label=\"Previous slide\" class=\"prev btn btn-gradient\"><\/button>\n                    <button aria-label=\"Next slide\" class=\"next btn btn-gradient\"><\/button>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-4    lg:h-20\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"need-help\">\n    <div class=\"container mx-auto flex flex-col lg:flex-row lg:justify-between lg:max-w-[1162px] lg:items-center\">\n        <div class=\"content lg:text-lg\">\n            <h4 class=\"text-purple-600\">Looking for more advice and real-life experiences?<\/h4>\n            <picture class=\"lg:hidden block mb-6\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-150x100.png 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-1536x1022.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-600x399.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup.png 1900w\" alt=\"\">\n            <\/picture>\n            <div class=\"my-4\">\n                <p style=\"text-align: left;\">Keep the conversation going on our podcast, <strong>Beyond the Pouch! <\/strong>Hear real stories and honest chats all about life with a stoma.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"flex flex-col gap-4 pt-4 lg:flex-row\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/blog\/beyond-the-pouch-podcast\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary w-full text-center lg:w-fit\">\n                            Listen now                        <\/a>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"hidden lg:block\">\n            <picture>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-150x100.png 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-1536x1022.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup-600x399.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/ambassador-signup.png 1900w\" alt=\"\">\n            <\/picture>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Few people have heard of Hirschsprung\u2019s disease (HD), a rare condition that can have a life-changing impact from birth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":7306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[40],"class_list":["post-7304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-rachel"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}