Friday 19 April 2013

Living on Crutches


I'm not sure how many of you beautiful readers are aware, but I am in a Illarov Frame. I had an accident back in December which turned my life upside down. If you would like to read about it, I have a separate blog here: http://externalfixatordays.blogspot.co.uk/ (Warning, might be a tad graphic).


This is how I make my cage look a tad more friendly


When my accident happened, I lived in Sheffield with my fiance and my friends but since the accident, I've had to move back to my other home in Wales so that my parents could look after me. As I rely heavily on crutches to get around, I don't get out much apart from the odd trip to the local shops and Physiotherapy/Hydro pool therapy.

As I had a hospital appointment in Sheffield, my parents suggested I could go up by train a few days early to see my fiance and my friends and I could even catch the last hockey game of the season. I'm going stark crazy being left in the house all day so I jumped at the opportunity to have some sort of independence. Trains booked and bags packed, I left home and made my way to Sheffield.

My first problem arose when we arrived at Bristol Parkway Station as the lift was out of order. Luckily, I can weight bare and slowly made my way up the three flights of stairs. We got to the top and I had a lovely hot chocolate before wanting to use the toilet. My father went to the guard to collect the disabled key when he was told "The disabled key got stolen, you'll have to get the replacement key from Bristol Council". My dad pointed out two problems with the guard's response; one, Bristol Council was god knows how many miles away and two, it was a Bank Holiday and the council would be shut. The other option was for me to go back down the stairs to use the ladies down there. Luckily for me, someone manged to magic up a key for the disabled toilets.

Drama over with, right? Wrong.

I'd booked my seats in advanced as crutches take up room and my leg needs to be stretched out. When I got on the train, I was told that reservations were not working and that there were only four carriages. This meant that I'd lost the seats I'd booked and was now perched on the edge of a seat only for my leg to be hit by every passing traveler. I told the ticket man that I needed to be moved and he just shrugged and told me nothing could be done. I also asked if I could have assistance to get off the train as I had my crutches and my bags for him to reply, "You have to book assistance in advanced. No one can help you". It took everything I had not to cry.

Eventually, at Birmingham, another four carriages were added meaning I could move and luckily, my fiance could meet me at the platform to help me get off.


Everything in Sheffield was going well except for one day. I knew it was going to be one of 'those' days when I got on the tram and no one offered me a seat leaving me to stand on crutches for twenty minutes. While I was upset and in pain, I was looking forward to shopping in Meadowhall so let it blow over.

I arrived at the MAC counter in Debenhams to find it slightly busy and perched myself at the foundation desk to wait for someone to assist me. I waited for thirty minutes, asked twice and saw five people who arrived after me get served before me.  It wasn't until I was leaving that an assistant stopped to talk to me. I was annoyed to say the least.

After Meadowhall, I came back into Sheffield city center to go to the Primark there. I managed to get around fine but I'd never knew how annoying the baskets are! The round baskets are so difficult for someone on crutches to use and continuously kept swinging against me and putting the balance of my crutches off. I found a few items and hobbled on over to the changing rooms to try them on. The assistant took my items and handed them to me. I struggled to take them and as I'd chosen a few maxi skirts, they dragged across the floor as I was unable to carry and use my crutches at the same time. I asked for help to take my items to the changing room but the girl ignored me and continued talking to her friend at the desk. I was left to go it alone.

I later paid for my items at Primark and went on over to Topshop, except I couldn't get in to Topshop. The Sheffield version has an escalator up into the shop, something which is impossible for me as they move too quickly for me to get on and off. I was really disappointed.


a girl in a wheelchair with cructhes



Ever since I had my accident, it's really opened my eyes up to how people and shops treat those who are disabled. Toilets are normally dirty and difficult to open, shops have rails and displayed fitted tightly together, staff ignore your needs and stare and people are clumsy and rude.

Of course, I have been in shops which have really helped me out and some people will offer to help if I'm struggling with something so I can't tarnish everyone with the same brush.

I will be able to walk normally again in about two months but some people are on crutches or in wheelchairs for life and I just hope that services will improve to be more disability friendly.



Thanks for reading through all this, normal blogging will resume when I'm feeling a little bit better.

 


16 comments:

  1. I couldn't believe this! Ill be honest I don't give it too much thought but the way you've been treated is really disgusting, I hope people and shops etc make more of an effort to make things easier for people with disabilities. It was a great post though, best of luck with the rest of your recovery
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you lovely. You never realise how difficult the little things are until something happens. xxx

      Delete
  2. Some people are just so rude and as for shops, one of my friends had to have her arm amputated so we went to get her some easy fastening bra's... the way she was treated was so awful I complained, it was nothing short of disgraceful... I hope you make it clear that you are still a human being and deserve respect despite the chair and your leg *hugs* xx

    http://beautyqueenuk.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Some shops just have no idea how to treat disabled customers. I have a whole new perspective. xxx

      Delete
  3. Oh my goodness I just read this and your other blog and I am so sorry for what happened to you. You write about it incredibly well, reading this post I just wanted to dive into the story and give you a big hug (and shout at the people who were rude/unhelpful...I must say I've had a few similar experiences at MAC..).
    I suffered flashbacks after injuring my knee in October, nowhere near as bad as your injury, but I remember the pain and the sound of my own screaming and how I wanted to stop screaming but couldn't. I've been left with a fear of falling over too, but the flashbacks have started to fade now. They aren't as vivid as they once were now :)
    I'd better stop now because I'm getting all emotional haha but I wish you a quick recovery and hope you feel up to blogging soon as I do love this blog :) Caitie xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! The blogger support is so great and I've heard about others having problems with MAC; for such a big brand their customer service is shocking.
      It's good to know that the flashbacks fade as it's still one of my biggest annoyance.

      Bless you lovely lady
      xxx

      Delete
  4. I cannot believe that nobody on the tram offered you their seat, that is unbelievable! I assume you may have had your frame covered with a long skirt (when I met you at the Bristol Blogger meetup I didn't realise you had one on because your skirt hid it) but people must have been able to see how difficult it was for you to get around and you were using crutches. As for the shops, I would never dream of just ignoring somebody who is obviously really struggling and needs assistance. It's their job to assist customers and I'm sure other customers would understand having to wait a little longer for service so somebody could assist you. I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you lovely. I would understand more if I didn't have crutches but if I saw someone who had crutches on a tram, I would offer my seat to them. Long skirts are my go to atm as I can't get trousers up over the cage :)
      Hopefully, shops will make changes.
      xxx

      Delete
  5. I kneed my knee nearly two months ago and had to spend 7 months hobbling on crutches. I also felt that everything was a never ending battle to move around like 'normal'. I struggled and no one helped, apart from one who had been on them themselves. It shouldn't be that why, you're £ is as important as anyone elses. As for the treatment in MAC unfortanty its the same anywhere, if they smell money they will be served first. Get better soon and love the brighten up of the cage, I put tinsel on mine when it was Xmas. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I had tinsel on mine at Christmas, I think it's hard finding new ways to brighten it up. Crazy how shops treat customers.
      xxx

      Delete
  6. I agree with the difficulties with being disabled. I don't need crutched but my neurological disorder comes with movement problems. I can't walk in a straight line and I have tremors, this makes shopping a nightmare on its own! Luckily, just explaining to someone I need to sit down for a minute usually helps (the tescos staff here are great for helping me out). But cos of the fainting longer trips (like one in Birmingham Bull Ring before Christmas) I needed a wheelchair to make sure I don't have an 'episode'. Obviously this meant my Mum and I needed to use the lifts.. we waited 20 minutes til someone finally let us on! Loads of able-bodied people were pushing in front (instead of using the escalators I may add) before we had a chance to wheel on, even with our complaints. I was exhausted and was almost in tears cos I just wanted to get back to my Grandparents and lie down, it wasn't til a nice couple barred anyone else getting on so we could that we managed to get on the lift. I know I'm the type who would do all I could to help someone physically disabled and it infuriates me that others aren't as courteous! I'm sad your experience wasn't all pleasant either. ):

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shopping centres are always so much worse; everyone ignores you and it's so difficult to get round :( xx

      Delete
  7. I just spent the past hour reading through your other blog, it was certainly eye-opening! My Nan has MS and whenever we go shopping it's such a struggle, there are no outward signs that she's disabled and she wobbles a lot when walking so people just assume she's just frail - we've had trouble obtaining a disabled loo key in the past too! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's crazy how people don't think! Your poor nan, she must hate people thinking that about her.
      xxx

      Delete
  8. Im a wheelchair user myself and it is shocking how many people are un considerate, especially with not moving from the wheelchair spaces on buses. And so many shops dont cater for disabilities. As for being ignored in shops, I find it best to take my money elsewere. Hope your leg heals soon, its sounds extremely painful xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for understanding, you must be a very strong person to be in a wheelchair- the times I've been in one I've just wanted to cry. I feel like something needs to be done for disabled shoppers. xxx

      Delete

Thank you for leaving a comment, many internet hugs for you!
I try to read to all comments within 12 hours but if you would like a quicker response, please tweet me at @Roxysmakeupbox :) xx

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...