Never kick a stroke victim when they are down! Like stroke recovery, nothing should stop you from trying.
Like me, you probably have plenty to rage about with your stroke experience and the world. Whether it be the NDIS, your mental or physical health, a lack of research funding, discrimination, long-term unemployment, how useless the IEA services are or even when companies don't bother to reply to your job applications (here is looking at you, Dr Lisa Murphy).
Well, I decided to do something about it, and I found it quite cathartic.
First off, if you are on LinkedIn or Facebook, look up my recent post (I'll put links in soon but a copy is below) and express your displeasure in a civilised manner.
Secondly, I publicly invited the Victorian Health Minister to hear a different experience of the stroke experience given that she was the Minister for Water when the Secretary (John Bradley) for DEECA was awarded his Public Service Medal (noting that the Minister for Water is one of the Ministers that oversee DEECA. Like a number of politicians that I have attempted communication with, she has yet to respond.
These actions may or may not get me anywhere, but like stroke recovery, that shouldn't stop you from trying.
Keep fighting the good fight and please consider supporting my appeal.
Thank you,
Damian
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Dear Prime Minister, Premier, and Fellow Victorians,
Please remember that "Ditch the Witch" is offensive and has no place in politics but it appears that it is acceptable to misspell a person's name, even if they wake from a stroke induced 2-week coma, unable to speak due to a tracheostomy and find that their family has been denied access.
This is especially so when it comes from a Public Service Medal recipient with a PhD in Leadership and multiple VPS employees. It is even considered 100% acceptable by the Governor General of Australia to receive one of the Nation's highest honours.
Premier, I think U are very fortunate that I am a civilised person, but I can't speak for others.
What I can agree on is that being uncivilised is not called for and that we are all human beings. You can't fight bullying by being a bigger bully. So, I would like to ask that everyone show their displeasure with our Parliaments through appropriate means such as hitting the like button. Let us call it a Civilised Resistance.
Recent experience has taught me that the media is only interested in the numbers. The last thing that anyone wants, is to get so mad with the current state of the world that a stroke or heart attack occurs. Frighteningly enough, a stroke or heart attack happens to an Australian every 4 minutes and stroke can happen to anyone of any age (1 in every 4 strokes occurs to someone under 65). As someone who has had their head cracked open, trust me when I say, stroke is not a pleasant experience. If it happens, you're screwed in so many ways.
If your mental health is suffering, try connecting with Beyond Blue. I favour one of their recommendations - "Say a little more - and ask one question deeper".
Be Civilised. Express your displeasure through appropriate means, but by all means, express your displeasure!
Please note - I tried to be reasonable but that got nowhere.
#ACivilisedResistance
#BecauseSpellingAPersonsNameCorrectlyMatters
