Tag: health

So Much To Say!

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Wow! I have so much I want to say – so much to write about. As I’ve said before, I only wish I could type as fast as my brain spits thoughts out.

First, the closing of 2018? Christmas? What?….. What? How did I miss your leaving? Where did you go?

I feel like I missed you completely, because I was in a weird vortex of medical “Lord knows what,” which now it seems completely surreal: A minor cold, getting caught in snow storm without a hat on, which led to Strep throat, which likely led to being on antibiotics a bit too long, which led to a severe allergic reaction, which led to a reaction to the meds used to treat the allergic reaction, which led to being put on a med containing Sulfa – which I’m allergic to, which led to a blistering rash on my wrists, which led to thinking it could be Shingles (for a second time in my life), add frustration of walk-ins being closed, more snowstorms, unavailable wheelchair taxis, and ohh yeh, a short supply of available attendants due to holidays, a few quitting, new hires not following through, and on and on. That’s how I missed you! I’m so sorry I missed you! Advent, my favourite season, you’re a Blur. Christmas Eve Service, I’m glad I saw you, but I missed so much else. And 2019, you snuck in without me even realizing it. I’m glad you’re here. I hope we’ll get along. But 2018, you left without a proper Good-Bye. I’m sad about that. Overall, you were good to me. We did a lot of “firsts” together and I wish we could have finished on a much more upbeat note. But I do thank you for all that we shared. It was awesome and amazing. Thank you.

2019! Right, lets do this! Bring it on!

Part of creating is…..

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If you work at home, make a comfortable, positive environment for yourself to work in. Surround yourself with things that mean something to you and that will inspire you. Pictures of family & friends, momentos, things that recognize your achievements, colours that make you feel good.

WE All Should Start Asking WalMart…..

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After reading a post from a friend of mine on Facebook, I decided to do what I can to support her. I suggested that WE all should start asking WalMart to consider getting one or two more scooters in their stores, at least in their bigger outlets. If they get enough requests, they might actually comply. How awesome would that be! So lets start by:

  • Sharing this idea.
  • Writing our local WalMart a gracious letter or email, asking them to please get at least one additional store scooter for their customers with mobility limitations and to ensure that all their scooters are maintained in good working order, especially on high traffic days, such as Fridays and weekends.

The following is my friend’s (Vanessa Anne Barnes) original Facebook post. With her permission, I am posting it here:

October 19 at 10:15 PM , Vanessa Anne Barnes is feeling frustrated.

“With my disability, I’m not able to shop unless there’s a motorized scooter available. The only place I can usually shop is Walmart but on Fridays it’s such a s truggle to get a scooter. You’d think with such a huge store and tons of handicap parking, there’d be more available. Had to wait a half hour before I could start shopping. 😠 😫”

That’s Just Flippin’ Awesome!

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Hiring attendants is admittedly one huge challenge for me. It can honestly take months and months to find ”a good one.” It’s damn scary.  I worry a lot about “What if someone leaves, gets sick,  etc., and I can’t find that next “good one.” Frustratingly the Gov. funding I get to pay my attendants is far below what someone with disability insurance can pay, which makes hiring even more  difficult.

So, is it worth it – all the stress, worry, sleepless nights of tossing and turning, and fearing the worst? In a word and without one split second of hesitation…… YESSSSSS!!!! And here’s why:

The amazing women that I do end up having the immense honour to hire are incredible and the following is only one example of why I become so outraged when on occasion people (usually Gov. Bureaucrats) talk of how I can simply hire other attendants as if I’m changing my flippin’ underwear.

This “example” happened Thursday morning:

As pretty typical, I as Kris to go to Tim’s for me. When she opened my wallet her first words were: “Uuhh… Where’s your debit card?”

My instant and only reaction was just to laugh and say aloud “ok….. Who has it this time?” I KNOW each of my attendants are completely trustworthy. I know I never have to worry about any one of them taking advantage of my trust. (Mine you, I only keep a little in that account at a time. That’s only wise, for my own budgeting as well.)

As I was about to text my attendant from the night before, I received this text: “Hey lady! I have your bank card. Frig. I’ll bring it tomorrow morning with me, sorry about that.”

That’s just flippin’ awesome! I truly love and immensely value having staff that I know I trust absolutely.

Have I ever had any staff who I was suspicious of? In June, I had a “petty cash change purse” with about $75 in it, and very oddly a pair of scissors vanish, shortly after I hired a new person. Curiously though, she texted to say that she was quitting after the next week’s schedule. When I got the text, I replaced all her future shifts with my other attendants. In retrospect, right from when I interviewed her, in my gut, I didn’t trust her. My other attendants, God love them. The were so upset and downright horrified on my behalf. Each one of them helped me search high and low – in every nook and cranny, but nope, it was gone. Still, I am so immensely blessed to sooner or later have the right person to apply for this crazy  job of assisting me in living my life on my terms. I am truly grateful to each of them –  past, present and future.

“Please Don’t Make Me Angry…..

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“Don’t make me angry….. Please don’t make me angry….. You won’t like me when I’m angry!” (“David Banner” a.k.a “The Incredible Hulk”, played by Bill Bixby, in the 1970’s TV series.) ….. Wal-Mart made me angry!

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August 22, 2018.

To Wal-Mart Pharmacy
[Location Deleted.]

To Whom It may Concern:

I find your new “ Wal-Mart Pharmacy Privacy Consent Form ” to be highly offensive for the following reasons:

• Terms such as “care giver” and “agent” are demeaning, disrespectful, and patronizing to someone who simply requires physical assistance .

• Needing physical assistance does not require an “agent” or a “care giver” to “act” in any official capacity.

• Merely picking up a prescription for someone does not require the person picking up the items to know any medical information about the “prescribie”.

• Should the person picking up the prescribie’s items show official Photo ID and be on a list provided and signed by the prescribie? Absolutely YES! But they do not need to be classified as an “agent” or as a “care giver.” The person is simply picking up the items. Nothing more.

Therefore, I DO NOT give Wal-Mart Pharmacy consent to regard the people listed here within as my “agents” or “care givers.”

Also, I DO NOT give Wal-Mart Pharmacy my consent to share my medical information with the people listed here within .

I DO however, give Wal-Mart Pharmacy my consent to release my prescriptions to the following people, who may sometimes pick up my pharmacy items on my behalf, provided they show official Photo ID and are on the list below. Please note that I will update this list from time to time as I deem necessary. The current named people as of the date stated atop of this letter are:

[Names Deleted.]

Thank you for your understanding and service.

Respectfully submitted by,
Gerianne “Hull(k)”
[as was my nickname waaaaay back when.]
Owner of DisabilityPride.net