Life as a Disabled Person is Good but Can Be Tough

Sorry for my silence the past month or so, apart from a small cluster of quotes I emailed to be included in a few articles and a radio interview, I have not written any blog posts or shared any old ones. I have had some of the most stressful weeks of my life.

News Pieces

Here are the links to feature articles in the Express, BBC and Mirror, that I have contributed quotes to recently. You can also listen to my Radio 5 Live interview. I am speaking from 1hr 55-2hrs, although this is only available for 28 days post the recording.

Broken Bed

My electric profiling bed and air mattress broke. I ended up with two beds in my room; the broken one and a new one, that I was in so much pain in I couldn’t lay on, so ended up on a temporary double height air bed in the lounge. So, with three beds downstairs we couldn’t move. In addition to my powerchair, manual wheelchair, shower chair, over bed table etc, it was a nightmare. The severe lack of sleep and combined with additional pain, I was really struggling.

Now we have two beds downstairs, which is better than three but still not ideal, especially given one is temporary and neither meet my needs. Initially, I was given good support to get the new bed (which I can’t sleep on) in quickly, but now I have been left in a very difficult situation at risk. My Mum is researching herself with no support of guidance trying to find a solution and a suitable air flow mattress and profiling bed that works for me. So any recommendations for profiling beds and high risk air flow mattress would be welcome.

I didn’t realise the difference my old bed made to me, regarding pain levels and the independence it gave me. I thought I would be fine with any air mattress and electric profiling bed.

New WAV

I also got a new WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) which is bigger and quite different to my old one so will take some getting used to. These are a couple of things that have been happening, it has been hectic to say the least.

Life is good but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard

There is a stereotype of ‘the poor disabled person’, they are someone you feel sorry for, have an awful life and you pity. I, myself and I know many other disabled people try to show this is not true. You can live a good life as a disabled person. I now work (very part time), I have family and friends, gorgeous Godchildren, I laugh and have fun. Yes, there are lots of things I don’t have (like a husband, children and a house) but then every disabled person is different, just like every non-disabled person is different. These things are not guaranteed in life.

Life is good but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard

~Hannah

I am not saying it isn’t hard sometimes, and sometimes more than others with battles to fight, people judging and attitudes. Nevertheless, people think your life if over when you become disabled. This is not true. There are sometimes, but not always, limitations depending on your illness or disability, however most disabled people go out, they do stuff, they live. Life is what you make of it.

In other respects, I am lucky, I have had opportunities I would not have had if I hadn’t have become disabled like being on the TV, radio, online and print newspapers and publications, magazines, I have done public speaking including a TEDx talk and am in the Disability Power 100 2021. I have met the Countess of Wessex and there is probably more to add to this list if I think about it.

My Mum always says: “If you are going to Spain but end up in Italy, if you spend the whole time in Italy thinking you should be in Spain, then you won’t enjoy Italy.”

It is the phrase I always roll my eyes at and say “yeah yeah I know!” But she is right!

So, what is my point?

You can have a good life being disabled, but that doesn’t mean there are not tough times /in your life, just like anyone else.

Hannah x

You might be interested in reading: Battles Battles Battles or 2021- A Year I Am Proud Of