I started wondering if the community service was going to pick me up. I was so exhausted that my emotion processing was out of order…
I finally saw the white car with the logo. I slowly approached to the car and waved at the driver. He saw me but ignored me. Instead, he asked an older woman at the set down area if she was “Rachel M”. I waved at him again to signal I’m “Rachel M”. He gave me the look of disgust. I wondered if it was because I’m not senior citizen. The name of the organisation is “Senior Citizen” in it. Or, he was disgusted that I have Australian name with Asian face…
He asked me several times if I was Rachel M as if I was lying to him. He gave up and accepted I am Rachel M…
Then next thing he was angry at was my wheelchair. He kept asking me if it was mine as if he threatened enough I would leave the chair behind… He angrily said that nobody told him that I have the wheelchair.
Well…, I have the transport request with doctor’s signature and it says I’m coming with my wheelchair. And my wheelchair had never been an issue so far. So, it is not my fault. But I was too exhausted to show him the form or argue with him.
It was very clear that I was not welcomed by him…
There was a male passenger at the front. But, we didn’t have chance to greet to each other. I was too weak to talk anyway. I just rested my head at the side trying to preserve as much energy and strength as possible.
The driver received a call to go to other hospital to pick up another patient. That means I would be in the car longer than I anticipated… I wondered if it would be easier for me to drive by myself. But the afternoon heavy traffic convinced me that I would not be able to drive in such traffic especially after the test I had.
When we arrived the next hospital, we had to wait for a while as the patient was not ready. The driver was not happy about it. I wondered what his problem was. Helping sick and frail is his job…
The patient was an obese woman. She had trouble with putting seatbelt on. I tried to help her, but my weakened muscle was no use at all. The driver got angry and he grabbed the seatbelt off from me.
The belt was too tight and he struggled finding the buckle on the seat. I tried to help him, but it only made him more angry…
He was on top of the woman and uttering anger. It disturbed me as it looked like he was assaulting the woman. I kept quiet and stayed away from him from fear and discomfort. He yelled at the woman to move to the other side from top of her as he couldn’t reach the buckle on the seat. Since he was on her, she struggled to move.
The male passenger at the front offered to swap the seat with her so that she could have more space. The angry driver ignored the suggestion and kept yelling at the poor woman.
I empathised what she would be feeling under him… I couldn’t bear the thoughts if it was me under him.
One stage, he was telling the woman off that she should have seatbelt extension. I thought that would be his obligation as providing transport service for sick and frail people.
Finally, the buckles clicked and we were on the way home. From the way he drove, I could tell he was angry.
As the time went by, I was getting more upset from how the driver treated poor woman. Nobody should be treated like that, especially sick and frail people. I wondered if that is the way sick and frail will be treated in community…
When we reached the male passenger’s place, we briefly waved at each other. He seemed to be disturbed as well…
We arrived at my place. I held the woman’s hand and wished take care of herself. She didn’t say a word, but smiled at me. She was more like embarrassed… I felt she should be angry from the way driver treated her.
The driver gave my wheelchair back. I had emotional dilemma to thank him for the ride… I didn’t feel comfortable looking at the angry driver and the poor woman in the car. I hoped he wouldn’t abuse her anymore. At the back of my head, I also hoped he wouldn’t come back to my place.
My energy level was critically low and whole body was very weak.
Basil was devastated to be home alone for such long hours. He even didn’t finish the special treat I give him when I go out. It was almost 4 pm. Soon after, I crashed. Basil snuggled on me and didn’t leave my side for a very long time.
As I said to the Cardiologist, being there to have the test done should be my achievement of the year. Sad fact was that nobody acknowledged my efforts or gave pat on my shoulder.
I started wondering if the community service was going to pick me up. I was so exhausted that my emotion processing was out of order…
I finally saw the white car with the logo. I slowly approached to the car and waved at the driver. He saw me but ignored me. Instead, he asked an older woman at the set down area if she was “Rachel M”. I waved at him again to signal I’m “Rachel M”. He gave me the look of disgust. I wondered if it was because I’m not senior citizen. The name of the organisation is “Senior Citizen” in it. Or, he was disgusted that I have Australian name with Asian face…
He asked me several times if I was Rachel M as if I was lying to him. He gave up and accepted I am Rachel M…
Then next thing he was angry at was my wheelchair. He kept asking me if it was mine as if he threatened enough I would leave the chair behind… He angrily said that nobody told him that I have the wheelchair.
Well…, I have the transport request with doctor’s signature and it says I’m coming with my wheelchair. And my wheelchair had never been an issue so far. So, it is not my fault. But I was too exhausted to show him the form or argue with him.
It was very clear that I was not welcomed by him…
There was a male passenger at the front. But, we didn’t have chance to greet to each other. I was too weak to talk anyway. I just rested my head at the side trying to preserve as much energy and strength as possible.
The driver received a call to go to other hospital to pick up another patient. That means I would be in the car longer than I anticipated… I wondered if it would be easier for me to drive by myself. But the afternoon heavy traffic convinced me that I would not be able to drive in such traffic especially after the test I had.
When we arrived the next hospital, we had to wait for a while as the patient was not ready. The driver was not happy about it. I wondered what his problem was. Helping sick and frail is his job…
The patient was an obese woman. She had trouble with putting seatbelt on. I tried to help her, but my weakened muscle was no use at all. The driver got angry and he grabbed the seatbelt off from me.
The belt was too tight and he struggled finding the buckle on the seat. I tried to help him, but it only made him more angry…
He was on top of the woman and uttering anger. It disturbed me as it looked like he was assaulting the woman. I kept quiet and stayed away from him from fear and discomfort. He yelled at the woman to move to the other side from top of her as he couldn’t reach the buckle on the seat. Since he was on her, she struggled to move.
The male passenger at the front offered to swap the seat with her so that she could have more space. The angry driver ignored the suggestion and kept yelling at the poor woman.
I empathised what she would be feeling under him… I couldn’t bear the thoughts if it was me under him.
One stage, he was telling the woman off that she should have seatbelt extension. I thought that would be his obligation as providing transport service for sick and frail people.
Finally, the buckles clicked and we were on the way home. From the way he drove, I could tell he was angry.
As the time went by, I was getting more upset from how the driver treated poor woman. Nobody should be treated like that, especially sick and frail people. I wondered if that is the way sick and frail will be treated in community…
When we reached the male passenger’s place, we briefly waved at each other. He seemed to be disturbed as well…
We arrived at my place. I held the woman’s hand and wished take care of herself. She didn’t say a word, but smiled at me. She was more like embarrassed… I felt she should be angry from the way driver treated her.
The driver gave my wheelchair back. I had emotional dilemma to thank him for the ride… I didn’t feel comfortable looking at the angry driver and the poor woman in the car. I hoped he wouldn’t abuse her anymore. At the back of my head, I also hoped he wouldn’t come back to my place.
My energy level was critically low and whole body was very weak.
Basil was devastated to be home alone for such long hours. He even didn’t finish the special treat I give him when I go out. It was almost 4 pm. Soon after, I crashed. Basil snuggled on me and didn’t leave my side for a very long time.
As I said to the Cardiologist, being there to have the test done should be my achievement of the year. Sad fact was that nobody acknowledged my efforts or gave pat on my shoulder.