I’m always impressed when an individual or organization is pioneering a path for others to follow—if they are the first, the original, the premier to embark or create or produce a product or service that fills a need in society, especially if that need is labeled as a social taboo. The Simon Foundation for Continence is one such group. Founded in 1983 by Cheryle Gartley, the first person dealing with incontinence to speak about it publicly, the Simon Foundation’s mission is to “bring the topic of incontinence out of the closet, remove the stigma surrounding it, and provide help and hope to people with incontinence, their families, and the healthcare professionals who provide their care.” The foundation is supported by both an Advisory Board and a Governing Board of Directors, consisting of a multitude of professionals, many of whom have dedicated their careers and research to the treatment of incontinence and the advancement of medical technologies to help individuals manage their bowels and bladders.

As with any organization that is on an incredible mission, you would expect an incredible individual to be at its head. Cheryle Gartley does not disappoint. She was deeply inspired by her grandfather, Simon, who came to this country from Latvia, believing that anything in America was possible. Simon arrived in America with only the clothes on his back and went on to open his own business. Although he died when Cheryle was 21, Simon’s influence on his granddaughter carried through far beyond her early adult years. Cheryle Gartley had the insight to become aware of the need in society to open up the door of incontinence that was heavily barricaded by social stigma. She did this by being the first person to publicly speak about her own experience dealing with incontinence. In 1983, when the Simon Foundation was founded, there was virtually no awareness in society regarding incontinence—no books on the shelves, no magazine ads, no products available at your local pharmacy, not even any articles in medical journals and certainly not any television ads for medications, products, and procedures offering assistance in dealing with incontinence. Thus, there was no hope. Thankfully, 25 years later, things have changed. Any local drug store has a section with products for bladder management; you can read extensively about bowel and bladder issues in a variety of medical journals; and one can now see ads on television for products such as adult diapers and various prescription medications that help stop bladder leakage. Much, if not all, of this public awareness is due to the advocacy and perseverance of the Simon Foundation.

Incontinence does not discriminate; it affects men and women of every race, religion, and social standing. The number of people dealing with bladder and/or bowel incontinence is astounding. There are over 200 million people worldwide currently living with incontinence, and the cost of it in the U.S. alone is 16.3 billion dollars per year. One of the biggest goals of the Simon Foundation is to communicate to individuals with incontinence and their families the importance of diagnosis. Diagnosis is essential because incontinence is a sign that something else is happening inside your body, causing the incontinence. In most cases, the symptom of incontinence is not an indication of a serious underlying medical condition. It can easily be caused by the natural changes in the body due to aging, such as loss of muscle tone and strength in women or the enlargement of the prostate gland in men. However, incontinence can be a warning sign of a serious and life-threatening condition that can grow worse the longer it’s left undetected. The Simon Foundation says the importance of talking to your doctor is paramount so that an accurate determination of the cause of incontinence can be identified.

A second reason to motivate an individual to get to the root of the cause of their fussy bladder is that with proper diagnosis and treatment, incontinence may be cured!   For example, urinary tract infections can cause a bladder to leak and may be easily treated with antibiotics. An overactive bladder (OAB) may be easily corrected with prescription medication, which stops the bladder spasms that cause leaking. Whatever the reason for incontinence, the sooner treatment is begun following the onset of symptoms, the easier it is to treat.

It’s not difficult to think of countless emotional issues and scenarios a person of any age dealing with incontinence may face. The Simon Foundation’s Web site, www.simonfoundation.org , relates individual experiences of people living with incontinence. A story submitted by a 40-year-old man struck me as particularly poignant. He is challenged with adult nocturnal enuresis, the medical term for bedwetting. After trying medications, alarms to wake him up, and various other methods that did not work, he began to wear adult diapers as a young teenager. Although he only had to wear them at night, he was teased cruelly. His sister’s friends would ask if he slept in a crib or ate in a highchair because diapers are for babies. An excerpt from his story gives insight on how he feels as an adult about the idea that diapers are only for babies…

Why is it that diapers are considered acceptable for the elderly, special needs children, or people with disorders such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, or Alzheimer's disease but are not acceptable for older children and adults that wet the bed? This to me seems totally illogical – after all, enuresis is a disease also and like any disease it should be managed. I had contacted an absorbent product manufacturer some time ago with an idea for a commercial for their "All Through the Night" disposable briefs, but they never responded. Maybe they feel that an older child would be embarrassed about wearing a diaper. Of course, with the negative image diapers have, who can blame them? All the ads for pull-ups have the following motto-"I'm a big kid now!" The implicit (or maybe not so implicit) message or assumption is that only babies wear diapers.

Diapers and plastic pants, in my opinion, should be viewed no different than wheelchairs, crutches, sanitary napkins for women, eyeglasses, or braces for the teeth…I personally have no problem whatsoever with wearing diapers and plastic pants to bed. There are people who suffer from painful, chronic, and debilitating physical and mental disorders. If all I have to do is sleep in cloth diapers and plastic pants a few hours a night, I think I'm pretty lucky…What people don't understand is that it can be more distressing going to countless doctors (which includes the embarrassment of discussing the problem in the first place), having numerous tests and procedures done, and the time consuming task of researching possible cures…A person has to decide for himself to what extent a problem is causing distress. The same is true for a problem like bedwetting. If the problem is bothering them, then by all means try to solve it, but if he can live with it, then it's best to try and manage it as best as you can. That is why I prefer to wear diapers and plastic pants to bed.

I applaud this individual who, like Cheryle Gartley, chooses to attempt to break through a perception in society by voicing an opinion and sharing a personal experience. Breaking social stigmas regarding any topic or issue in our world is accomplished in this way.

If you or someone you love is in need of information, support, or guidance regarding treatment of incontinence, the Simon Foundation Web site is a wealth of knowledge that is updated regularly. In addition, the Simon Foundation relies heavily on public donations to generate updated educational materials, Web site maintenance, and advocacy for people with incontinence. You can also read more about Cheryle Gartley’s incredible accomplishments, awards, and continued achievements as the Simon Foundation’s President. Get involved, become aware, and be a part of the pioneering path that has opened the door of incontinence.