Everyone remember Brian - who felt he was aggrieved because people on his flight to Florida were in wheelchairs yet able to board plane without assistance?

Brian felt it appropriate to photograph them & complain to the airline.

What’s worse, the airline pandered to him. /1 🧵

Brian’s complaint? It’s unfair people get to use wheelchairs when they can walk. He’s mad they get to pre-board

He doesn’t understand dynamic disability. He can’t comprehend the reasons a person might require a wheelchair to navigate an airport but be able to board unassisted /2

When you become disabled - you don’t just lose your health. You lose your autonomy, independence, freedom and often … your friends & family.

Help doesn’t magically arrive. No one comes to save you.

In fact - most people will blame and abandon you. 🧵 I don’t say this for pity or to scare people - but to shine light on something we don’t talk about enough.

You can lose everything when you become disabled.

There are folks who act like it’s a vacation - like it’s somehow “fun” for us /2

I’m seeing a lot of “if your mask works why do I need one” and want to tackle the reason one way masking isn’t enough.

I’m immunocompromised and wear a fitted N99 anytime I leave the house. It’s excellent personal protection.

I still wish more people would mask 🧵 There’s a ton of community spread right now. It’s not just covid either. Flu, RSV and norovirus are all active this time of year.

The more contagious people one comes into contact with - the higher the risk. /2

“You can’t just spend your days writing - you need to make an effort to find joy.”

I’ve heard this repeatedly this holding season. It’s quite strange because until I started advocating & writing I had NO joy.

I was bedridden, alone and struggling to find purpose 🧵 Why is it that the non disabled automatically associate joy with socializing, risk taking, working and/or health?

Is it really that hard for them to imagine that a person might have a rich inner world and joyful connections online? /2

Helping someone in distress or danger should never be conditional. You shouldn’t need to assess their “worth” before helping them.

I’m disheartened by hundreds of messages from men telling me they would only help a woman in danger if they could be sure she was “worthy” 🧵 Ignoring the obvious fact that a victim in immediate distress can’t take the time to somehow prove their worth to you … what’s wrong with people?

If you see someone being hurt - you do something. That “something” doesn’t have to be violence - but you need to TRY and help /2

“The longer you deal with chronic illness & disability - the more people disappear from your life.

Each Christmas that’s passed since I became severe, I find myself receiving less holiday cards, texts, calls & emails. I’m painfully aware that most have forgotten me.” /1 🧵 This is a quote from my Chronic Illness Christmas article where I discuss guilt, gaslighting & how to cope with being sick at the holidays

When I was writing it I found myself reflecting over last few years. I noticed even those I tried to stay in touch with slipping away /2

A number of years ago I had a massive cyst rupture that sent me to the ER on Christmas Eve.

I remember struggling to think of literally anyone I could call to come be with me.

After all, people barely show up for us on normal days. Would anyone show up at Christmas?
🧵 It’s hard to be chronically ill at the holidays. Let’s be honest - it’s hard year round.

People are constantly treating us like burdens or they’re ignoring us altogether.

We spend a ridiculous amount of spoons fending off unhelpful & unsolicited advice /2

The early days of the pandemic showed us that if the government wanted - they could take care of everyone. They could provide a universal basic income. They could accommodate the needs of disabled people who had been pleading for remote healthcare and other services for years 🧵 They could keep people fed, safe and housed.

They didn’t WANT to. The moment they thought they could tell you to get back to work - they did.

In order to facilitate it - they stripped back data and access to tools for Covid while telling you it was over and/or mild. /2

Money can’t cure chronic illness - but lack of money & privilege can make surviving life with chronic illness much harder

When you’re struggling to meet basic needs like food, clothing, & shelter - you use up your spoons before you begin the fight to accommodate health issues 🧵 We deserve better social supports & safety nets.

We need a universal basic income and universal healthcare. Affordable medications and forgiveness of medical debt. Free access to necessary public health tools like respirators and vaccines. Paid time off.
/2

A man set up a tent across the street from my apt - in entryway of a building that’s about to be torn down

My neighbours are angry they have to look at him. Meanwhile it’s -20 outside tonight

I’m bedbound & can’t do anything to help…so I sent a warm meal via Uber 🧵 I have no way of knowing if he got it or even if it was right choice … but I see him every day when I look out the window. Adding additional pieces of wood or cardboard in an attempt to shield himself from the elements. Getting yelled at by passerby’s who have gone full NIMBY /2

To every guy who came into comments on my Gisele Pelicot article to yell “not all men” & demand I give more props to good guys…It’s time to be quiet

Investigation uncovered more than 70,000 users in Telegram group chats admitting to raping women & sharing tips to sedate them 🧵 This investigation came right after the verdict in landmark Gisele Pelicot mass rape trial - which saw her ex husband sentenced to 20 years in prison & 50 men found guilty of sexual assault

Gisele was drugged by her husband for over a decade - and assaulted by at least 80 men /2

Today I heard the most disconnected justification for not masking

Someone told me their dad refused to mask because he wanted to “live his life fully”. He caught covid & died

They believed their Dad lived more fully than ppl who mask…because he died living the way HE wanted 🧵 Given they’re experiencing grief - I pushed back as gently as possible. I explained that you can do almost all activities while wearing a respirator - but you can’t live life if you’re dead

There was zero recognition of the point I was trying to make. They stood their ground. /2

“Most pregnant women who contract bird flu will die, according to Australian review of infections that found most unborn babies with virus also die”

A well fitted respirator offers great protection against H5N1.

Remember that pregnancy is NOT a health neutral state 🧵 l Everything you could be at risk for in life becomes higher risk when you’re pregnant. Yes this includes covid.

It astounds me how many pregnant women are not masking. I saw one photo of a covid placenta and that was all I ever needed to see /2

I wrote an article Gisele Pelicot, the role medical misogyny played in her abuse & why ‘Not All Men’ rings hollow right now

I said now is NOT the time to yell ‘Not All Men’ at us - because in this case - it was a great many men. Men from all ages, backgrounds & walks of life 🧵 It was her husband of fifty years. Her neighbour. Fathers & husbands. Too many men

The men who were approached by her husband & declined to assault Gisele? They didn’t go to police. They didn’t get her help. They called themselves ‘good men’ for not raping an unconscious woman.

“Take off your mask so I can see your pretty face”

“What’s wrong sweetie? Fighting with your boyfriend?”

“Your skin issue isn’t ugly - I promise men aren’t looking”

“No you can’t have a hysterectomy - you might meet a man who wants kids”

Misogyny in medicine harms patients 🧵 These statements were all said by healthcare workers. They were wildly inappropriate and yet represent only a handful of the instances of misogyny I’ve faced in healthcare.

From a very young age I was brushed off as “sensitive, hysterical or hormonal” /2

Disabled people and those who are Covid cautious have been sounding alarm bells about H5N1 for months. We are desperately trying to warn people to pay attention - but no one is listening.

The first severe human case was announced today in Louisiana.

Where are we headed? 🧵 First - I think it’s important to note that Canada had its first severe human case a few weeks ago.

A 16 year old BC teen was in the ICU and had no confirmed exposure to infected animals/birds.

No updates are being given on his condition /2

As the holidays approach - I’m reminded of last year when a family member excluded me from zoom Christmas because they “don’t do sick”

My invisible illnesses have become more visible in recent years - because I’m too ill to hide them.

If I can’t hide them - I’m not welcome 🧵 This is the reality for so many of us with disabilities. If they’re invisible - we’re tolerated for as long as we can hide them.

If you speak up about your struggles, show pain, or god forbid you ask someone to wear a mask - you will be cast aside quickly. /2

There’s a lot of talk about the ER system in Canada right now. Wait times, triage, alternatives to being seen etc.

As someone who’s spent most of her life in and out of ERs - many times with life threatening conditions secondary to complex chronic illness - a few tips. /1 🧵 This should go without saying - but wear a mask. The best quality one you can get that fits your face.

It’s not just covid. ER’s are literally full of sick people and a well fitted respirator can help you avoid a hospital acquired infection.

Wash your hands frequently too /2

There’s so much about chronic illness that no one prepares you for.

The devastation of realizing the medical system can’t help you.

The pain of being abandoned by friends and family.

The gaslighting from those who refuse to accept the “chronic” part of chronic illness /1 🧵 It’s more than just adapting to being sick - it’s adapting to a world in which most people consider you “less than”.

You become an afterthought. Invisible. Someone to be tolerated - perhaps pitied - but never really included . /2

Non disabled people see the ER as a magical place you go when you’re suffering.

They believe they will be “fixed” and sent home feeling better than before.

People like me know it’s not true. We mourn the loss of the innocence we had when we too believed the hospital was safe 🧵 For people with complex chronic illnesses - the ER is often one of the worst places we can be.

They’re busy, full of sick people, staff are overworked and often burned out and they can be a sensory nightmare.

Ever spent 2 days on an ER gurney? You will know what I mean. /2

As a disabled immunocompromised person - I wear a fitted respirator whenever I leave the house.

This is the best way I can “take responsibility” for keeping myself safe.

Mask bans put that safety in jeopardy.

What I want you to know about why we’re scared. 🧵 First - people seem to be misinformed about the bans in question.

These bans aren’t specific to wearing a mask while committing a crime. They make the ACT of wearing a mask illegal.

Are there medical exemptions? Sort of. Who determines if you qualify? The police. /2