In 1954 her sister had an ostomy operation (a procedure that takes the end of the intestine out through the abdomen, allowing waste to exit via a surgically created stoma).[3] After the operation, Sørensen's sister was uncomfortable going outside due to fear that stoma might leak, due to the metal/glass capsules or fabric/rubber bags that people used at the time.[4][5]
Sørensen then created the world's first disposable ostomy bag attachable through an adhesive ring, very similar to the devices used today.[6]