Pre my wheelchair days I was well known Togo off on a wonder at weekends, taking my suitcase along to Friday classes, i normally stayed within the UK. I of course spent a lot of time in Manchester, London, Portsmouth, Southampton and so many other places, the uk is so beautiful, it’s how my friendship circle is so spread out, plus being a football fan means I meet people along with way!
I wouldn’t have called me a social butterfly though more of a traveller something I’ve always had a passion for, ( more later on this I’m sure!)
In 2011 I went into a wheelchair and I honestly thought that it wouldn’t be forever because I was strong, rheumatoid wouldn’t beat me, take my independence, I was wrong now in 2017 I’m still in a wheelchair and not in a great place with my mental health, depression currently hitting hard.
I’ve become isolated, which hurts my head. I see on an average week, my brother, my dad and cousin but I don’t go out bar food shopping & appointments I’ve got a lot of them!
Luckily I’m a football fan and so during the season I go to football it’s a real lifeline and gives me something to hold on to every day when I’m sat with the dog! This is when I see Jamie who’s my PA For football but it’s like going with a friend. I then get to see Andy B, Andy M, Dax, Ann Marie, chas, Helen, Sophie and Morag which is good and all the other people around about.
But the times I’m on my own at home, late at night, early morning and other times, I’m lucky I have a good friend in Lee who is always up for a chat!
Then I have social media which is an absolute lifeline to me.
YouTube I watch daily in particular two family vloggers, family fizz and Ingham family who both like to travel like me I always enjoy those vlogs. Watching the vlogs gives me a focus during the day which helps me personally.
Twitter, I chat to Lee on and then wider twitter pals and the lovely football community which is great. Lee has become a really good friend over the past year or so and I enjoy our chats on united, Clemson, Atlanta United and everything else, he’s also really supportive with my anxiety attacks I’m so thankful he’s my friend.
Facebook, this is mainly groups I’ll mention but I have great friends who I chat to on Facebook, but one group that’s really helped me recently is wheelie brits, it’s a community of other wheelchair users who just get it and have helped me feel like part of something, it’s been great and I made friends with Ian a top guy and met Gail a fellow football fan I met at the Emirates who I wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for wheelie brits and we’ve become good friends.
Another set of groups is ones related to my health so heart and rheumatoid based groups who I have met some great friends from including Joanna who is such a lovely person and a great friend. I had the pleasure of spending a week with her in France where she lives. Also Michelle who lives in New York another good friend and both suffer with rheumatoid arthritis.
You often here the negative about social media but it’s great for people who are isolate it’s a real life line to the outside world for me personally.
Vicky xx
