Opening Doors

Opening Doors

Yesterday I went to the launch of a project I helped with called Opening Doors.  I’ve shared the website in the past but in case you missed it.  Home – Opening Doors

I met an advocate there, who deals with people who may be in crisis situations and they become her clients. Example: Couple about to take a newborn baby home where they are living in a brother’s garage. They already have a 4-year-old who is in preschool and because I asked questions, you would imagine they could just move into a room inside the house, so what’s the issue?  They already have three generations living inside the house, twenty people so, no they are stuck in the garage. The top number one question they would get asked. Are you on the public housing list?

Anyone who is on that list, asks when will they get a home?  How long is a piece of string? That is a list you need to be on, but it doesn’t guarantee you will get anything.

So, the significance of one’s home is even more important to anyone with a disability.  It’s a place to be safe, to keep one’s precious things, to build important memories, to regroup at the end of the day, to replenish energy, to sleep. Then to get up the next day ready to fight another day.

So, in short, keeping this in mind,

·         Brain injury: 47 years

·         Moved out of home at 19 years

·         Moved lots until 30 years

·         Diagnosis of ABI at 34 years

·         Since treatment at 30 years, onset of severe disability where I can no longer work and need care.

·         Have moved: 4 times!

Keeping in the back of your mind, I had a boyfriend, sorry I thought I had a boyfriend when I first developed my disability. I digress or context done.

As I mentioned my situation to the advocate, how many times I’d had to move since my disability and while in comparison to her clients with the new born baby, I had told a friend that finding decent housemates since my disability had been like getting my heart, soul and wallet robbed by complete strangers. A friend had bitched to me when he had his disability, he had, had to give up his awesome housemates and he couldn’t understand why I had not been more empathetic towards him.

So, I pointed out, while I’d moved four fucking times and had lived by myself for seven years or more, renting. His family bought him a fucking house!  Now admittedly his house is in the outer suburbs, he owned the house. No renting.

and now 10-15 years later, he’s moved into an apartment in Abbotsford where he can walk to the city and he still thinks I should be all empathetic towards his plight.

Sound bitchy don’t I?  Yeah, the inner bitch comes out occasionally.

Today’s Lunch – 13th March 2020

Today’s Lunch

Good Mental Health Day

Apologies my foodie post was delayed this week. My apologies. I had a really shitty migraine. So, have not been out much this week. Happily, had a three-day weekend! Always makes me happy! Had the brain injury self-advocacy group on Tuesday, so started the day with a migraine ended the day without dinner, some hard drugs (Tremadol) and finally nailed part of my New Year’s resolution, got to bed before 1am!

At the brain injury group there were new members present. Another newish member described me as ‘Caustic’ I asked what she meant? Not offended I offered ‘Bitchy’, was acceptable, or ‘blunt’ I just like to be effective. I provided an example. She had introduced me as ‘really friendly and warm but caustic’ and she is probably right. I also bring the funny. Now, let me touch on the Corona Virus. The media is not helping and people are stockpiling flour, long life milk, medications and most importantly Toilet paper (I will now refer to as T.P.)

People need to calm down! Because I need my T.P. because it turns out to be a terrible time to be doing a liver cleanse. Taking my St Mary’s Thistle for my fatty liver, I can’t even give up my closet drinking as I don’t. Add to this the HRT patches I started on Saturday to help calm some of my peri menopausal symptoms gave me an early shark week and a shittier migraine than normal. Couldn’t even get through my chiropractic adjustment without being sick. The rest of my normal Wednesday stuff was cancelled. Home to bed!

Started to improve Thursday and still with all my usual appointments and crazy, hellonwheels tune-up, visit from the vampire (blood test!) and a trip to my podiatrist. And now I’m smashing out this post Thursday evening, the night before it goes live. While I’ve skipped a few meals this week due to feeling seedy from my migraine. I’ve a musical treat. I’ve just gotta get through Friday and Friday night I’m going to see a band. I actually loved this band in the 80’s when I was a teenager and the horrible week, I let Jamima cross the rainbow bridge back in 2016, in my neighbourhood. This time I’m going to see him at the Forum in the city. Here is a clip you can check out…….

 

This is way too short! Here’s another sample.

And lastly, two stories of the extremes of the attitudes and fall out of the corona virus. A support worker told me both of these from one of her other clients. This about a month ago.
1) While at the butchers getting her clients cat its meat. Yes, fussy cats down here. An older gentleman complained he couldn’t get his muscles because of this Chinese Thing. This was about a month ago. But did you gasp? So wrong! So, so wrong!
2) This other client went to her doctor and while in the waiting room chatted to a Chinese woman sitting next to her about art. She loves art apparently. When her name was called the Chinese lady thanked her. It had been the first conversation anyone had had with her for three weeks. I guess, I’m suggesting we need to do better? Wash your hands. If you have any Symptoms stay home and don’t buy all the T.P. Helen’s doing a liver cleanse! Your welcome!

Cheers,
H