Meet brave West Midlands Police officer back at work with specially-adapted stab and bulletproof colostomy bag – Birmingham Live

A brave police officer battling a deadly bowel condition is set to return to work - after being fitted with a bulletproof STOMA BAG.

PC Mark Woodcock will resume front-line duties in the new year donning the titanium-plated armour five years after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

The 33-year-old, who is a traffic officer with West Midlands Police, had to take three months off after he was left in crippling pain with the serious bowel disease.

But after undergoing surgery to have his colon removed and being fitted with a stoma bag this summer, he says he is now ready to return to the line of duty.

PC Woodcock has been given the 220 specially-adapted stab and bulletproof colostomy bag, which was developed by American firm for US military veterans.

PC Woodcock, of Leicester, has also been sharing his journey on Twitter gaining hundreds of followers while candidly charting his brave battle.

He was 28 and had just got married when he was first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis - a chronic condition that leaves the colon and rectum inflamed.

PC Woodcock, who works for the force's Central Motorway Police Group, said: "After several trips to the doctor and hospital I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

"At the time I was only 28 and thought surely Im too young for things like this but I was completely wrong.

"I had never heard of the condition myself and was surprised to learn that one in every 420 people live with the disease and surprisingly its commonly diagnosed in people from 15 to 25 years old.

"For the first two years it had little effect on my life, but in 2017 I experienced my first flare up and was off work for three months.

"On my worst days I would make 15 trips to the toilet with bloody diarrhoea, constant fatigue, mouth ulcers and swollen joints.

"The doctors placed me on immunosuppressant medication which worked great and I returned to my job.

"In 2018 when I joined CMPG, my condition was manageable and I had no symptoms.

"I was on daily medication and had to attend the hospital every eight weeks for infusions

"In 2019 whilst on my advanced car course I found out I was in remission, so I was taken off the immunosuppressant medication.

"At the beginning of this year I started to become unwell again and was admitted to hospital.

"I was placed on an intense course of steroids and back on the immunosuppressant medication.

"Normally I would return to work but this year has been very different due to Coronavirus.

"I was in hospital for a week and it was very surreal. I had no visitors and could only watch the events unfold on TV.

"I was also on a ward with patients who were ill with Covid.

"I remember when I was discharged my friend picked me up from hospital and the roads were just empty. As a traffic officer, that is something you never see.

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"Due to the immunosuppressant medication, I was placed on the NHS shielding list and if Im honest I hated it.

"I know its designed to protect me; however I felt like a prisoner in my own home.

"Im lucky that I have a wife and two children at home who supported and kept me busy so the time quickly passed.

"After 10 weeks I was taken off the shielding list. I was able to finally leave the house, go for a walk and get back to work, driving as a traffic cop.

"I was so glad to be back at work and enjoyed getting back to some sort of normality."

But in August this year, PC Woodcock was readmitted to hospital after his condition worsened and he was placed on another course of steroids which did not work.

He was given the choice of trying one last medication, which had a 20 per cent chance of success, or have his colon removed.

He added: "Im not a betting man but I know 20 per cent is not good odds plus it wasnt a permanent fix so Id just be delaying the inevitable.

"Due to the current situation, I was in hospital on my own and had to make this life-changing decision on Facetime with my wife.

"We decided the best course of action would be the removal of the colon known as an Ileostomy and to be fitted with a stoma.

"I had the operation on August 19 and after two days I started to feel better. All the symptoms had gone, and I felt amazing.

"I spent three weeks in hospital and it was extremely difficult not being able to see my family but worth every second as I am now getting my life back.

"Im now at home recovering from the operation and I will have to return to hospital at some point for a further operation.

"Ive been in touch with other police officers from different forces who have stomas who has shared his experience returning back to the front line.

"The help and advice I have gained has really inspired me and accelerated my recovery.

"I have joined Twitter to do the same, to help others who may be experiencing similar health problems.

"I hope to document my return to work, my next operation and recovery and how I find day to day living with a stoma as a police officer including the challenges it brings."

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Meet brave West Midlands Police officer back at work with specially-adapted stab and bulletproof colostomy bag - Birmingham Live