Katie, nine, is smashing the stigma around stomas

A nine-year-old girl from Leeds has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 British Citizen Youth Award for her inspiring effort to increase awareness around stomas.

- by Jennifer Cartwright

In her free time, Katie Thirling likes singing, crafting and attending concerts and theatre shows.

She also enjoys sharing her experience of living with a stoma on her Instagram account account @katies.stoma.journey. Her aim is to promote inclusion and to show how amazing stomas are.

An estimated one in 335 people in the UK live with a stoma, a small opening in the abdomen that is used to remove bodily waste into a collection bag.

Katie had her stoma surgery 18 months ago after experiencing painful bowel issues.

She said: "(The stoma) made my life a lot better because before I couldn't go to school as I was in hospital a lot.

"My body needed a break-it really did hurt and I knew a stoma could help me."

The stoma surgery was life-changing for Katie.

Kelly Fowler, Katie's mother, said: "Katie has always been the most confident child I've ever known. But when she was having the problem with her tummy before, she'd look lifeless, her eyes would be sunken and grey and her tummy would be heavily descended.

"Now I can only describe her as a sparkling little ball of life. She never stops."