How to handle comments made

[Haley Whippet]

Dear Mighty Mom,
Your story made me cry,I am happy things turned out well for your dear son..

Deb

 

[secretkeeper]

As a MS sufferer for 5 1/2 years, I understand your frustration. I have also gotten comments and honks with exasperated looks when on a "good day" I've stepped out of my car. Unfortunately the ignorant do not understand that they aren't always good. Hold your head up and smile and be glad it's a "good day". Best wishes!

 

[buckylarue]

I just got done reading the 15 pages on the Community Board, ostensibly about obesity in children in America, its causes and cures, but with a very strong undercurrent about those 'fat, lazy people in ECV's at WDW', and how they should all just get up and walk and then they would lose the weight. Well, I am a longtime survivor of HIV, and the combination of symptoms and side-effects have me on disability with severe neuropathy and a lipid redistribution condition that resulted in a permanent fat gut, no matter how much exercise and diet control I do. So far, I have not had a need to use a wheelchair or ECV (although I came close last summer in the heat), but I will soon. I guess it is some consolation that, after years of hearing nasty comments about daring to be gay and show my face in public (rarely at Disney, but more frequently elsewhere), it will be a nice change of place to just be another 'fat, lazy' person instead!
As for comments, when someone on the bus tried to tell me I didn't look disabled when I paid my reduced fare, I thanked them for their second opinion and told them I'd pass their diagnosis on to my Doctor at my next appointment!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey Bucky

Even though that thread went south, there are some parts I do agree with. Whether or not people want to admit it, there are some lazy folks who do abuse the ECV option. Personally, I wouldn't give anyone a hard time that had a reason for using an ECV. Furthermore, when we go to WDW, I certainly wouldn't stroll up to a person and ask them if they had a legitimate reason for using one. If WDW is difficult/painful/impossible for you to do without an ECV, get one and don't think twice about it.

Again, there are some obese folks who are obese because of laziness and not caring. I don't see how anyone could say there isn't. And because of that they get ECV in WDW, and possibly take away the chairs for people with legit diabilities/hinderances.

Off the soapbox now.

 

[Dancin Desert]

WOW! To those of you who are either fighting the battles on the inside and/or outside, you have my prayers. I knew you had it tough, but not this much abuse from others. That's really pathetic.

As for me, my youngest son has a curable illness. I explain his illness, then often get asked when he finished his treatments. HE'S NOT DONE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR! They say, "Well, he looks healthy!" How the heck do THEY know what "healthy" blood looks like? (he has leukemia) At that point, I usually just roll my eyes and try to act less ignorant than they.

Bottom line folks ... you will have my prayers and support for this fight. Bank on it.

 

[Darian]

Reading this thread has been very encouraging and inspiring for me. I have end stage coronary artery disease and have survived 5 heart attacks and a nasty case of cancer in my lymph system. But I still look good. Not great, as I've put on a few pounds, but enough to earn the same sort of ridicule and hostility for parking in handicapped spots or riding around in a wheelchair. I've been told pretty much the same comments as others posted on this thread. When a sarcastic punk at EPCOT told I didn't "look" disabled I replied "Why thank you very much! (with a big smile) I'm glad my 4 heart attacks, 26 heart surgeries and cancer treatments don't show." He just walked away. Of course now the total is 5 heart attacks and 30 heart surgeries, but hey, I'm still breathing so I'm not complaining.

The frustration of dealing with all this and the efforts required to get decent medical care from an HMO are somethings that everyone on this thread can relate to. And I'm sure you all know what an amazing amount of energy it takes to deal with all these issues. The news that I need yet another open heart surgery (the docs may as well install a zipper instead) added to all the other stresses and just pushed me over the edge last week. I'm doing better now.

Hearing about all your experiences has given me new hope and strength to deal with these stresses in more positive ways. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.

Darian

 

[gillenkl]

This happened in Epcot this past June. My son is 6 and looks "normal" - but he has learning disabilties, adhd, sensory issues, etc.... AFter a few minutes with him you would realize he "isn't normal". So we're in Epcot and I see a station that is giving away a lanyard that has a sea animal attached to it. I took my son up and the CM (an older man) started asking my son if he wanted one and my son would say "yes" - then the CM just kept prompting for more replies and asking him to make replies he didn't understand so my son just kept standing there waiting for the stupid lanyard. He literally wouldn't hand over the lanyard. This just kept going on and people in line kept watching us - finally I said something like "my son has learning disabilities, can he please have a shark lanyard". He gave it to him finally, but I just hated that I had to say something with people watching. Everytime I see that stupid thing in my sons room I remember that, but I can't throw it out because of course my son loves it and has no concept of what went on.