This is how it feels like to be a person with a disability.
It is frustrating.
I was a weekday workaholic and weekend warrior. I was one of
those who look forward to the start of a new year and expect great things.
It all changed when last December 22, I broke my left leg at the
foot of Mt. Tabayoc in Kabayan, Benguet.
I spent my Christmas at The Medical
City and had surgery the day after. A metal rod held by 4 screws was placed in
my left leg. There used to be 4 until one got dislodged and was removed last
March 4.
Being confined in a wheelchair or always depending on crutches make me feel really disabled. That feeling is more difficult to deal with than the pain and the inability to walk.
I got so frustrated I couldn't sleep at night. It made me
more frustrated that I was not productive during the hours I was awake. It even
got to a point I was shaking and I was forcing myself to cry to release the
emotions but no tears came out.
It also bothers me that I cannot walk.
I really appreciate people who advise me to take it easy. I get
annoyed with people who constantly ask when I can walk or why my recovery is
taking so slow.
Hey, more than anyone, it is me who wants to walk. I appreciate
that people notice but please do not rush me. It adds to the frustrations.
There are things I cannot do.
I surprised some people when I started showing up for event coverage and meetings days after the operation. I actually needed that to ease the frustrations. It actually helped.
It doesn't mean that I am 100% ready. There are things I cannot or don't want to do. I want my healing to be complete and I also need this time for myself. I don't want to explain anymore why.
I hate how my leg look and how my body bloats.
I have keloids on my left leg. It is still more reddish than my
right. Parts of my left leg are still black and blue.
There was a time when my body was very cooperative. I ate three full
meals and it didn't feel like I gained weight.
Now, it is different. Apart from worrying about my recovery, I have
to think about weight gain. It doesn't help that people still taunt me for my
body weight.
Yes, I also try to exercise while lying down on my bed. Happy?
But, can't it be okay for me to eat more? Food can make me happy.
I know I have mood swings and I also try to deal with it
It is easy for me to get annoyed and angry. It is not just pain
and discomfort I deal with, it is also the constant outbursts of my emotions.
I am glad it is my mom and sisters who are taking care of me.
Others would have strangled me already.
Again, it is frustrating to be disabled.
I don't like wheelchairs. I don't like crutches.
It feels like somebody else is controlling me. I used to have
two functional feet, which enabled me to go anywhere I wanted. Now, I have
to ask people to take me. I cannot control the pace and sometimes the
direction. I also get motion sickness.
Crutches are painful on my armpit and hands. Being in crutches
for so long makes my left foot swell. It is also tiring.
I do not like able people who fill the elevators or block
the ramps.
Hello! We need these things. Please do not make life more
difficult for us.
If you can walk, please take the escalators. If you are beside
me in an elevator, please do not rush or constantly move. I am tempted to trip
you.
If you see a sign on a parking lot, please consider other people who need the slot more than you do. You make me sin. I secretly wish you
also got fractured.
I need attention too.
I may look big and strong but aren't the crutches enough for
people to notice I need help opening the doors.
I wanted to hit a restaurant crew of Calea in Bacolod who just
watched me try to open the door by myself. Does it have to be in your job
description? The guy on the street was kinder than you.
I do not feel the same. I do not act the same.
I had friends who noticed I was not my usual self. I am going
through difficult times so if I am not always bursting in laughter or a little
bit emo. I know you miss my old self. I miss her too.
Of course there are pains and a lot of discomfort.
My left leg has to be constantly elevated but not any pillow
will do. It has to be the right amount of softness. It has to be consistent. If
there are lumps, my leg feels it and it is so uncomfortable.
Sleeping is very difficult. There are a lot of positions I
cannot do. If I want to sleep on the side, I have to sync my movements.
It is also very painful if anyone or anything bumps my left leg.
I wanted to strangle that girl employee of Lancaster Hotel in Mandaluyong who
accidentally hit me while rushing to the elevators. More so when she said sorry
in that trying to be cute ala Got to Believe Chichay mode. You are not pretty!
My operation scar is prettier than your face!
It is not that bad though. Actually, the good greatly outweighs
the bad.
I feel loved.
Ever since the accident, not once did my mom or any of my family
and friends blamed me or my mountaineering for the accident. They had every
reason to. It was not only my life that got affected. They also had to make a
lot of adjustments.
All I felt was their love, care and compassion. They didn't see
it as a task to make my milk everyday or push my wheelchair or charge my
cell phone for me.
As a result, I didn't, not for any moment, blame myself or
anyone for the accident.
I feel missed.
A week ago, friends picked me up to attend the regular meeting
of the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines. It was late already.
My mom was not so happy about me going out at night but I insisted. The
moment I stepped out of the car, there were cheers. It was overwhelming and it
feels good knowing people missed me.
I feel cared for.
If you look at my instagram, about 75% of my posts from the past
3 1/2 months were the food brought to me by friends. My intention is not to
brag. I just want to show the world I have great friends and I want to remember
them every time I browse back to my posts.
Honestly, I didn't have much time to wallow at my predicament. Friends were always there to visit, call, and chat.
It is true what they say about friends, that they are the ones there when you need them the most. I am glad I found out who they are.
It is true what they say about friends, that they are the ones there when you need them the most. I am glad I found out who they are.
I feel how it is like to be a baby again.
In one of my Facebook posts, I said that I am back to being my
mom's baby. One of my friends said that I should enjoy it.
That is not hard to do. There was a time I got breakfast in bed.
My fruits were cut and peeled. My bath and clothes were prepared for me.
Since I am a lot better now, I need less care but I am still the
family's baby, even my little sister's baby. She prepared my milk for me last
night.
Actually, I think everyone in the family likes that I am spending more time with them and we have a lot of bonding moments.
I feel special.
Up to now, I am still afraid of stairs. So, when I booked a
flight for me and my mom, I chose Philippine Airlines because
based on experience, there are bigger chances there will be a tube access.
I didn't bring my wheelchair anymore because my grandmother in
San Carlos City has her own wheelchair, which I can borrow. To be sure, I also called the airline to make sure there was wheelchair available.
From check-in to departure, even after landing up to the time I
left the airport, an attendant was with me, assisting me and of course, pushing
my wheelchair.
It was the same during my return flight to Manila, except when
we landed at the Manila airport where passengers had to take the stairs. I was
actually contemplating already asking the flight crew if they have a slide.
I didn't know that on the right side of the plane (stairs were on the left),
they would attach an elevator that has ramps. Even the bus I used has its own ramp.
Even when I watched Wicked at the Cultural Center of the
Philippines, I had an usher assisting me. I could get used to the VIP
treatment.
Disabled people, like senior citizens, are prioritized on queues,
including cinemas. I might miss this when I am already up and about.
I feel the goodness of people.
Strangers assisted me when climbing the stairs, removed
obstructions from my path and offered chairs.
When I watched Wicked, the family seated beside me asked if I
needed anything or if I needed to go to the comfort room.
People are kind to the disabled, generally.
I feel wiser.
Life events like this come with a lot of learning. It made me
appreciate my life more, the people around me and of course, God. I feel more
in love with Mama Mary, her angels and Sto. Nino.
Having also this much time to think and contemplate made me
realize a lot of things. There is a lot to gain from being quiet,
being aware of everything and slowly taking them all in.
I feel fortunate.
I am really lucky my work doesn't require me to go to the office
everyday. It is also good that my office is in the same building so our
workflow is not disrupted.
I am also happy my business partner and all the people I work
with, including my clients, are very understanding.
Despite also my lack of productivity, the blessings do not
cease. That is very fortunate.
I feel blessed.
Honestly, despite the trauma of the accident and the pain after,
I feel blessed. Why? I know this is God's way of letting me experience His love
and the affection of the people around me.
I feel ready for my new chapter.
This experience made me realize that life is too short to be
living just one life. During my 20s, I was so focused on my career. In my 30s,
I got a good balance of career and my hobby, which is mountaineering. I was
also able to start on my lifelong goal of being of service to others. Now that
I am nearing my 40s, I feel like a new life is about to unfold and this period
prepares myself for it.
I am not saying though that I am abandoning mountaineering and
Trails to Empower Kids, the group I co-founded who help kids who live in far-flung
areas. I just have space now for more.
I got myself armed. I bought a positivity necklace from Alex and
Ani. I also have a Pandora bracelet ready to be filled with new charms that
will tell my life story from here onwards. I also got yesterday my crystals and
charms bracelet that helps me attract happiness, love and wealth.
In a few months, I will be able to walk. What's good about this,
I will forget the frustrations and just remember the love.
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