Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
Today’s prompt reads as follows:
“If I could do anything as a Health Activist…”
Think big today! Money/time/physical limitations are no longer an issue. What is your biggest goal that is now possible?
At the moment, as some of you may be aware, I attend a couple of social groups twice a week. These are open to everyone whether or not they have a chronic illness or not. The majority of the people who currently attend are middle-aged, and am by far the youngest person there! However, I do not mind this, and thoroughly enjoy the company when I attend the groups.
However, if there were no limitations placed upon my life, especially, the limitations that my illness places upon me, I would love to start a group specifically for younger people with chronic illness or disabilities; this will not only allow me to start a group that would support others that may experience problems associated with illness and disability such as isolation and loneliness but will also allow myself to meet others who are closer to my age.
This group would not only allow the opportunity to meet up and talk to others but I would also aim to apply for funding for trips to local sights and other amenities. In my own experiences, my illness and disability has isolated me from my peers, and have often kept me inside of the house, unable to go to places which may be of interest to me. So, allowing the opportunity to go on trips will break the isolation for myself and many others.
It has also been an idea of mine for some time, to also start a regular support group for people with dizziness problems like mine. Many people in my life, as best as they can, try to understand what it is to live with constant dizziness, but as we all know, it is very difficult to understand something that you have never experienced. So, it would be great to meet others, that are also living with dizziness for support and understanding, as well as gaining tips and coping strategies from each other!
And if money was of no issue, perhaps setting up a charity for those living with neurological conditions; a charity that aims to provide support and resources for a wide variety of neurological conditions that may not be covered by other specific neurological charities (such as MS Society UK). Living with the condition like I have, a long-standing brain stem lesion, I have found that it is extremely difficult to find a group or charity that fits my specific diagnosis, and therefore, it can even be more isolating as I have no idea which charity or organisation I can turn to for support and guidance. Wouldn’t it be great, therefore, to have a large general neurological based charity that can give advice, help with resources and support for anyone living with a brain condition – a place where anyone living with a neurological condition can belong.
It would be great to leave a long-lasting legacy after I am no longer here….
