Docs, could a person survive without a colon?

Yes: The main function of the colon is the adsorption of fluid leaving the small intestine where nutrients are adsorbed. Patients with diseases of the bowel such as inflammatory bowel disease or diffuse polyposis frequently have the entire colon removed bringing a loop of terminal small intestine out on the skin as an ileostomy. Many people are able to lead a functional life with this stoma.