Meet Missy
Meet Missy: She is a wife, mother and friend. She has
cortical myoclonus which causes body jerks. Her story is worth your time.
When I saw Corey’s VLFA story, it caught my eye. I have had
trouble with things that he has had trouble with. Being in a wheelchair, it’s
hard to access things like going into buildings. I have a mobility scooter and
I may be getting a mobility wheelchair. I can walk but I have to use a cane
because of my condition.
I used to drive. One time, I drove from the house to the
dollar store. I had the jerk and it made my steering wheel turn. It scared me
so I got ahold of a neurologist. I decided I couldn’t put my life and my
daughter’s life, or anyone else’s life in danger. The doctor agreed I should
not drive.
I have cortical myoclonus. It makes my body jerk. I have a
hard time walking. I can’t drive anymore. I have to depend on people to take me
places. There’s not transportation here in Rifle if you need help. When you
don’t have wheels it can make it really hard. Summertime is easier but in the
winter time it is very hard.
When the weather is nice I get on my mobile scooter and do
what I need to do. In the winter there is too much snow and I can’t take it out
and about. But I have also had problems with the scooter breaking down. If I go
through just a tiny bit of water, it has been breaking down. Then they tell me
it’s my fault that I’m doing something to it. It’s not like I’m jumping curbs
with it.
My condition makes my body jerk and I never know when it’s
going to happen. I went to Glenwood one day. I was going to cross the street
and I passed out in the middle of the street with my walker. I woke up in the
middle of the street. Not one person helped me. I never know when it’s going to
happen. This is something I don’t wish on anybody. It’s not a fun thing.
Some places don’t have accessibility buttons to push. This
makes it hard to get inside. The lights when you cross the street, are on the
other side of the pole than the direction you are crossing the street. It makes
it hard to press. I have to depend on people. I can do things around the house
but to go out and about, it is worse. I’ll be sitting sometimes and the jerks
will start happening spontaneously. I never know from day to day what it is
going to do.
I just want people to know that it’s not easy. Sometimes
people will look at you then just walk on. Sometimes people will stop and try
to help you. People do need to know for handicapped people it is really hard to
get into buildings. I noticed it more when my bod started to jerk and I couldn’t
walk. It was a real eye opener.
Join the conversation.
We want to hear YOUR
voice.
Where would accessibility be
an issue if you suddenly could not walk?
Valley Life for All, A Non-Profit.
Reach us at: 970-319-1279
#valleylife4all #voiceability4all
Resources:
Post Independent Article
Vail Daily Article
Aspen Times Article
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