A 34-year-old woman undergoes total abdominal colectomy with an ileostomy for fulminant ulcerative colitis. She strongly desires to avoid a permanent stoma. She is counseled extensively regarding J pouch and she chooses to undergo completion proctectomy. After constructing a J-pouch, you find that the apex of the pouch does not reach the divided rectal cuff. Which is the most appropriate next step?