Over the last 18 months I’ve found my mobility to be deteriorating at quite a fast pace. I’ve found it really hard to accept that I now need to use mobility aids to get around.
I’ve always been one of them girls who loves to dress up, do full make up and wear the most fabulous high heels I could find. For my university graduation my parents even bought me a pair of Louboutins. Now I live in trainers and flat shoes.
I’ve never really thought of myself as a vain person though. I was forever going into lectures with unwashed hair and no make up on when my fatigue started to get the better of me.
My pains have reached new heights which means I completely rely on the help of mobility aids most days. When I first realised this, I struggled a lot with leaving the house using my stick, if I was getting a picture taken I would hide it. I felt some sort of strange unfounded guilt that I was too young for a walking stick and that I shouldn’t need it at the age of 26-28.
I worried that because I don’t need them all the time people would think I was faking it. I felt like people were looking at me if I could walk a few feet without them. Eventually I reached a ‘f**k it’ mentality in regards to using them, it’s nobody’s business but mine.
It took me a long time to realise how amazing these things are and embrace them as a part of me. I wouldn’t be able to get out half as much as I do without a mobility aid. I looked for fancy walking sticks for ages online but failed miserably. It appears disabled people can’t have much individuality or express themselves when it comes to their mobility aids (we want to feel pretty too). It’s like they’re all aimed at older people. Pretty shit but I’m sure someone will rectify this soon (I’ve seen a few companies that look as though they might soon be making them 🤞🏻).
I found one walking stick that has a glow in the dark handle and another with cats on. I have my zebra print smart crutches and most recently I’ve acquired a wheelchair.
Though I am completely confident in using mobility aids I still get the odd set back. Sometimes you hear the odd person comment stupid things like, ‘she’s too young/pretty to need that stick.’ If you could all just mind your own business people, that would be nice. Illnesses don’t discriminate on age or looks and if I want to put a pretty dress on to myself feel better, I shall.
I feel a lot more like myself now using them. I can feel beautiful with a mobility aid, you can still be disabled and sexy or cute. They’re like an extension of me that gives me so much freedom and I take one with me wherever I go! They even help me to balance doing physio and pilates around the house.
My life with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome 