tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post6415303271095716145..comments2023-10-25T15:57:59.553+01:00Comments on Coke Floats & Chemo: Shocking care politicsYvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15846161876247142748noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post-33289438476100686182014-03-02T13:29:11.377+00:002014-03-02T13:29:11.377+00:00Thank you Karen, your lovely kind words mean a lot...Thank you Karen, your lovely kind words mean a lot to me. It's still very early days and I always knew it was never going to be an easy transition, but compared to many, Toby's move is so much kinder. There are so many Learning Disabled adults who have nobody to speak up for them, and decisions have to be made far too often in a real hurry, by social workers who, often with the very best intentions, simply don't know these people well enough to be able to make decisions as to where they are going to live. It is simply heartbreaking. I hope that by writing this, it may at least raise awareness a little, and without awareness change can't happen. It's going to be a long, slow road to finding solutions that work for every single one of them, and even harder to then secure the funding to make those solutions work effectively. Even when I'm no longer able to fight Toby's corner, there are others I can pass that responsibility onto who will always make sure he is OK. But what of the thousands of others with nobody? It's beyond tragic. Karen, thank you for reading through this and for taking it to heart as you have. It means so much to me to know that there are other people who care too. Love to you. Yvonne xxxxYvonnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15846161876247142748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post-25945323202574130712014-03-02T05:22:45.344+00:002014-03-02T05:22:45.344+00:00dear Yvonne,
your sense of compassion and concern...dear Yvonne,<br /><br />your sense of compassion and concern for others who don't have the advantages and care they so desperately need is deeply touching, and so admirable. it makes me understand and feel even more relieved and happy that your dear Toby is in such a good place. you worked so hard and diligently as both a Mother and an advocate; and I believe that all turned out just as it was meant to be. that you put your heart and soul and compassion and knowledge into this post to enlighten and highlight such complex and disturbing issues is a tribute of love and concern for all the people with learning disabilities, and for their families who have little or no voice. <br /><br />much love and light to you, to Toby, and to your Family,<br /><br />Karen xoxotccomments2013https://www.blogger.com/profile/00446394638074551345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post-33659185410327753932014-03-01T13:33:00.192+00:002014-03-01T13:33:00.192+00:00Marie, I'm overwhelmed by your words thank yo...Marie, I'm overwhelmed by your words thank you. Learning Disability is such a minority cause and the LD adults have no voice and no power. Many of their families are crushed by the unyielding system and bureaucracy that they have no strength left to rattle cages. I hope this isn't just speaking for Toby and me but for everyone who has a loved and cherished, but less able, family member. Your lovely comments mean so much xxxYvonnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15846161876247142748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post-59902028564502006502014-03-01T13:18:41.007+00:002014-03-01T13:18:41.007+00:00I don't have any of the right words I am afrai...I don't have any of the right words I am afraid. All I can say is how moved I was by this post Yvonne and how powerful a testimony it is to your passion and sense of justice for what is right and fair in this world. Mariehttp://beyondbreastcancer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post-34698532746804890192014-02-28T18:30:21.626+00:002014-02-28T18:30:21.626+00:00Benedicte, you lovely, lady, how do you always man...Benedicte, you lovely, lady, how do you always manage to find the exact right words that will make me feel better? Thank you. You are so right, I do it with everyone else in mind too, I wish I could fight for all those who have no one on the side. Thank you xxxYvonnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15846161876247142748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272569575534917525.post-26318884081303096922014-02-28T18:21:00.665+00:002014-02-28T18:21:00.665+00:00I hate having to play the "personal" ca...I hate having to play the "personal" cards... when we are fighting for something that is simple justice, that is a part of the fabric of our society, we (people like you and me, Yvonne) are not merely fighting for ourselves and our children. I think that we both have a wider perspective. Each time we find ourselves faced with a fight, we have in our minds' eyes the hundreds of parents who do not have our ability to fight, and so we want our fight to count for them. A victory based on personal circumstance has less weight when it comes to changing, improving the system.<br />But at the end of the day, our responsibility has to be to ourselves and our children. And in the end, personal circumstance is always a big part of why we need what we are asking for. You said yourself at the beginning of this piece that Toby would not have had to move out for some time yet had you been well... therefore, the need for the right home is intrinsically linked to your illness. You were right to bring it up.<br /><br />As for others, there is a lesson here as well. When you find yourself up against a bureaucracy, it's tempting to lay all the information out as factually as possible, as unemotionally. We often feel that emotions make us weak. But behind the bureaucracy, there are actually a lot of people, and they find it much easier to find a way through a tough situation if they understand the emotions involved. Better to tell the whole truth, emotions and all, than keep quiet and end up in quiet desperation.benedictesymcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06620582568889631690noreply@blogger.com