Thread by @broadwaybabyto

Those of us who are still Covid conscious - especially those with disabilities who are trying to keep safe in a world willing to toss them by the wayside - are having a rough time.

It’s important to share the wins when they happen - and I had a healthcare win recently! 🧵 /1

This was my first trip to the hospital since mask mandates were dropped (I’m incredibly fortunate to live in a city that kept them mandated for 4 years) and I was quite worried that I would be judged for still wearing a mask /2

I’m high risk for a multitude of reasons - not the least of which being that I’m immune compromised and mild colds have put me in the hospital. I’m mostly housebound and was isolated even before the pandemic. Which means my highest risk activity is seeking medical care. /3

I’ve always said that I find it appalling that people make tremendous sacrifices to keep themselves and their families safe - only to end up infected in the hospital where they had no choice but to go. Patients should not be infected in healthcare settings. We can do better. /4

Threat of infection causes patients a great deal of stress & anxiety - because no one should have to choose between care and Covid. No one should worry they will be psychologized for masking, or treated by someone who knows they’re sick and won’t wear a mask to protect others. /5

It’s a dark time for those who have to rely on the medical system on a regular basis - so I was pleasantly surprised when my visit went smoothly.

I was fortunate enough to have a man available to accompany me - and we both wore headstrap N99s and eye protection. /6

He knew almost nothing about my condition or why I was in the hospital - but his role was to assert to staff that I required them to mask. Many disabled patients - especially women - have noticed that having a man request masking results in less push back. /7

To our great surprise - he didn’t even have to ask! Everyone who saw me immediately put on a mask. The receptionist, a few nurses, a tech and the doctor. I didn’t receive any dirty looks, sighs or comments about how I must be “anxious about COVID.” /8

In fact one validated our choice to wear respirators by saying that with the state of my health we were doing the ‘absolute best thing we could do’ by wearing respirators.

They were wearing a surgical so it was a bit discombobulating - but still great to have the validation /9

The air quality was also excellent - with CO2 not going above 600. This was a great comfort since most staff who masked for me were not masking overall - so there could easily have been covid left lingering in the air. /10

I saw a number of N95s on other patients - and each one gave me a knowing smile and nod. It felt like a secret handshake from across the room as we braved the dangers of a hospital environment during an airborne pandemic together. Solidarity to each and every one of them /11

Obviously there’s things I would change. I still firmly believe masks should be mandatory in hospitals and that N95s should be provided at the entrance in lieu of surgicals. Many people can’t afford respirators - and money should never be a barrier to safe healthcare. /12

I’m also aware that my privilege in having a man to accompany me and not being visibly marginalized probably played a role in how well it went - it could be very different for a person of colour or someone without an advocate. /13

We still have a lot of work to do to make hospitals safer - but I want to take a moment to celebrate the wins when they come. The lack of pushback, the mask mirroring & the validation that respirators were a good choice for someone in my situation were all BIG wins. /14

Now if we can just get people (especially HCWs) to realize that Covid is a threat to everyone - and not just people with risk factors like mine - we will start to see change. Let’s keep sharing stories & masking in solidarity and hopefully we save a life. /end