For days I deliberated whether or not to share what happened to me.
"Why does that lady need the FAMILY toilet to herself?" Asked a mother of one very loudly with her partner outside the DISABLED toilet/shower who wanted to wash together. Holding back my tears after hearing them moaning outside for several minutes I rushed out of the shower. I ran back to the caravan and I cried my eyes out to my husband about how I had to squeeze through a family to get out of the shower block who presumed I didn't need to have more space and a seat to shower safely. That was the first time in days I'd gone anywhere alone and someone who didn't even know me judged me and judged me wrong. I cried and cringed at the same time. How can someone comment on my actions without knowing me? For once I stood up for myself. I returned and waited half an hour for the family who had used the DISABLED toilet to finish. When they did I walked up to the mum, held her hand and told her my story. "I'm Georgia, I'm 24 years old and this is my husband David. He's holding my son Alexander who is 11 months old. Today I used the disabled shower without being escorted because my husband needed to look after our son. I used the disabled toilet because I need to sit down. My kidneys aren't working properly and I have morphine patches on my legs. I have chronic health problems. Just because I look ok it doesn't mean that I am ok. You made me cry. Please don't ever judge a book by its cover. This is the first time in nearly six weeks I've escaped the house. I've been writhing in pain all night on all the medicine you can imagine. My husband took me here to rest and try to feel normal. I deserved to use that room and you made me feel like I didn't." I vowed to never lie about my health or happiness after being pregnant but here I am guilty of it again. I am Sharing this experience with my friends because I want you to know it is ok to not be ok and also that we should be careful how we judge others. We never ever know their story. Just because they are not in a wheelchair or visibly ill it does not mean they are healthy or strong. Lots of disabilities and illnesses are blind. Be kind to one another.
This was my experience when I was camping in s caravan to escape the heart ache of being so sick again a few weeks ago and I wanted to share it with you . I'm in hospital now recovering from my operation and wanted to remind everyone that not all sickness is blind and if you are judged wrong try to explain yourself if you have the courage. I used to rush about my life working and being generally frustrated with everyone who was slow or had a sad or moody face or was not sharing their space with me in busy cafes etc. Until we know someone's story let's take s moment to calm down and think if they are disabled and blind. It's post natal depression awareness week so I thought I would put this out there.
