Julie McGovern suffers from a debilitating chronic disease.
This week, she returned to her car to find a nasty note scribbled on it. She has asked that people share her story widely so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Julie writes…
My name is Julie. My entire life I have been an athlete. I have excelled in all things athletic. I was on the track team in high school and college, as well as a cheerleader in high school and college. In the summer of 2005 I was diagnosed with Mononucleosis. I was unaware of this and continued to train hard in my collegiate sports.
I thought my excessive fatigue, sore throat, headache, and over all sickness was due to being a freshman living in the dorms. It is not uncommon to get sick in that environment. However, my symptoms progressed and I went to the doctor as soon as I learned about the mono, I immediately stopped these activities.
Due to this, I am unable to stand for long periods of time or walk long distances. Along with many more life altering aliments. Being a young person with an invisible chronic illness is one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with. People think I look fine, so I am not sick. It isn’t that I’m looking for sympathy, but respect and compassion. It has been an incredible odyssey going from a vibrantly healthy person to someone living with a chronic illness.
My life before I was sick is much different now that I am.
Top Comments
I have been a carer for my 90 year old Grandmother for 13 years. I have had two children during this time. I too have been harrased and told that I cannot use the parking spaces because I am able bodied. I think many people assumed that I used the space becasue I had two babies in the car. I was even told once that I should drop my Grandmother off and then park in a normal car space and then get the car when I needed to pick her up!
I have had endless dirty looks and comments over the years.
It would be a much nicer world if people assisted as much as they criticise.
I wish you all the best for your future. Thank you for sharing your story.
I have chronic spinal issues and whilst I look great on the outside and manage reasonably well I constantly get comments about not having anything really wrong with me...until they see the scans. people should just shut up about things they cannot see as some of us suffer with disabilities that aren't on the outside.