At first glance, this just looks like two strangers introducing themselves. Look a little closer. Phil is wearing a rather convincing stool costume. And Lionel doesn't bat an eyelid. Why? Because when you live with a spinal cord injury, talking about bowel care becomes as normal as talking about the weather. In fact, it's often more important than the weather.

Every carer eventually learns that not all poo is created equal. Too hard? That's a problem. Too soft? That's a problem. Nothing for three days?Definitely a problem. Suddenly conversations that would empty most dinner parties become part of your daily vocabulary.

"Was it Type 3?"

"No... more of a Type 6."

If you know exactly what that means, congratulations. You're now part of a very exclusive club. The funny thing is that most people spend their lives trying not to think about poo. Professional carers spend their careers learning that paying close attention to it can prevent constipation, impaction, autonomic dysreflexia, skin problems, hospital admissions and countless uncomfortable days for the person they support.

So yes... Sometimes you really do need to know your sh!t.

Not because it's glamorous.

Not because it's amusing.

But because inside the toilet bowl can be some of the earliest warning signs that something isn't right.

The lesson? The things we find embarrassing to talk about are often the things we most need to understand. Knowledge replaces awkwardness with confidence, and confidence leads to safer, more dignified care.

That's exactly why Fellow Carer exists. We provide practical, engaging spinal injury training for individual carers, home care agencies and hospitals, helping professionals develop the confidence to tackle the subjects everyone else would rather avoid. Because better training doesn't just improve skills—it improves lives.