I can't believe how in this day and age there are
still people with the gumption to look at any person,
but this specific person being me, and saying, "yup,
you really looked disabled", as he showed a "thumbs
up" sign when referring to my Mini Van being parked in
a disability spot, with a disability sign on the front
window.
This is the same Mini Van I recently purchased to
transport my new electric wheelchair with me so I could
perhaps reach out into the world and try to grasp some
of the life I once had back. The same Van that had my
supportive back brace sitting on the centre console,
with my new months collection of pain medications in
blister packs sitting in Shoppers Bag on the passenger
floor. The same Van that had my walker in the back,
the walker that was becoming harder and harder to get
out of the car to use.
I can't believe how shocked I was to have some random
person speak to me like that, but more so, how
shocked I was at my own angry response to this his
comment!!
Wow, I really am a VERY pissed off disabled person who
is mad enough at my "invisible disability" without
having to tolerate the ignorance, and uneducated gall
of some man who seems to have a desperate need,
without being invited or, even regarded in the slightest,
to open his mouth on something that is none of his
business!!
You know the shocking part? If I had seen this man
anywhere I would have figured him to be an educated
man. His entire appearance and presentation speaks
"intelligence" yet when he opened his mouth all
appearances are overshadowed by the ignorance in his
words.... I guess I misjudged this man the same way he
misjudged me, but I wasn't the one who made that
comment, or any comment at all until I was insulted
publicly in front of a busy shopping center for no
reason.
Just because I don't look sick as you see me limping out
of Grocery Store, doesn't mean I'm not injured or
suffering. It just means that at that moment my
medications are working well enough to allow me to be
stubborn, determined and willing to suffer instead of
fighting to get my walker out of the back of the van to
get one stupid box of garbage bags!!
FYI: "Invisible Disabilities" can be just as disabling as
the person who's disabilities show on the surface. Just
because I don't show it, or flaunt it doesn't mean I and
others like me don't suffer.
This was the first time I've ever had to face such
ignorance since I began to suffer from a rare disease.
An invisible rare disease at that!!
Really? Will this ever change?
For those of you who've experienced anything like this
before, you have my deepest sympathies and a heart
felt apology. Not because I ever remember doing that
to anyone, but for the misinformed, uneducated people
out there who feel the need to insult anything they do
not understand..
No one deserves this, but you never truly know how it
feels until it happens to you.
"Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do!"
I guess I have to start believing in that myself..
still people with the gumption to look at any person,
but this specific person being me, and saying, "yup,
you really looked disabled", as he showed a "thumbs
up" sign when referring to my Mini Van being parked in
a disability spot, with a disability sign on the front
window.
This is the same Mini Van I recently purchased to
transport my new electric wheelchair with me so I could
perhaps reach out into the world and try to grasp some
of the life I once had back. The same Van that had my
supportive back brace sitting on the centre console,
with my new months collection of pain medications in
blister packs sitting in Shoppers Bag on the passenger
floor. The same Van that had my walker in the back,
the walker that was becoming harder and harder to get
out of the car to use.
I can't believe how shocked I was to have some random
person speak to me like that, but more so, how
shocked I was at my own angry response to this his
comment!!
Wow, I really am a VERY pissed off disabled person who
is mad enough at my "invisible disability" without
having to tolerate the ignorance, and uneducated gall
of some man who seems to have a desperate need,
without being invited or, even regarded in the slightest,
to open his mouth on something that is none of his
business!!
You know the shocking part? If I had seen this man
anywhere I would have figured him to be an educated
man. His entire appearance and presentation speaks
"intelligence" yet when he opened his mouth all
appearances are overshadowed by the ignorance in his
words.... I guess I misjudged this man the same way he
misjudged me, but I wasn't the one who made that
comment, or any comment at all until I was insulted
publicly in front of a busy shopping center for no
reason.
Just because I don't look sick as you see me limping out
of Grocery Store, doesn't mean I'm not injured or
suffering. It just means that at that moment my
medications are working well enough to allow me to be
stubborn, determined and willing to suffer instead of
fighting to get my walker out of the back of the van to
get one stupid box of garbage bags!!
FYI: "Invisible Disabilities" can be just as disabling as
the person who's disabilities show on the surface. Just
because I don't show it, or flaunt it doesn't mean I and
others like me don't suffer.
This was the first time I've ever had to face such
ignorance since I began to suffer from a rare disease.
An invisible rare disease at that!!
Really? Will this ever change?
For those of you who've experienced anything like this
before, you have my deepest sympathies and a heart
felt apology. Not because I ever remember doing that
to anyone, but for the misinformed, uneducated people
out there who feel the need to insult anything they do
not understand..
No one deserves this, but you never truly know how it
feels until it happens to you.
"Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do!"
I guess I have to start believing in that myself..
Saving 
