TheUnsinkable Story

I just spoke to my Mom and she encouraged me to thank all the people who have been there for me and have tried to help me over the years. I couldn't possibly name you all by name, but thank you. Thank you for letting me talk, for keeping me company, for helping with practical tasks, for not judging. Thank you for meals, financial support, and those unexpected gifts. Thank you for welcoming me into your warm home. I could go on. So many people have helped me...and when I say in other posts that the system has failed me, it is not directed at you. I love you all!

I wasn't sure what to post today, but I decided to be brutally honest. When I checked my phone this morning I was disappointed. I am so set on making a difference with my story... I want my posts to go viral, to reach everybody in the world. Yet I know that's unrealistic. But now that I've thought about it, I'm really happy with the response I've had to my story. People commenting on my post have offered to file complaints with EPS. My MLA has been wonderful and encouraging. I have been put in contact with the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights and also the exact lawyer I need to have on my side. I've been referred to the Elizabeth Fry society for counselling and support. So even though there were technical issues in getting my post out there originally, I've had an amazing response. Thank you!

Today I share another story about the police. This one is good, difficult but good. The police were at my house again responding to a call I made to the crisis line (Access 24/7). The one officer was looking at me strangely and I questioned him as to why. He said I looked familiar. Eventually it came to him: "You're the girl from the bridge. I caught you by your ankle. I never thought I'd see you again." Thinking back I know exactly when I had met him. I remember standi...ng on the bridge, taking off my boots so my toes could grip the rail. I remember sitting in the ambulance afterwards, the frostbite eating away at my toes. I don't remember jumping. But I know that I did. And apparently, this officer caught me. His emotion and awe at the situation were apparent, and it moved me to tears. You see, in the social and political climate that we are trapped in right now, you either "defend the police" or "defund the police". There seems to be no in between. I had an awful experience with the officer who assaulted me. But I also had an amazing experience with the officer who saved me. The battle we are fighting is not against the police as an establishment. It is against individuals. Everyone makes a choice with every action and everyone is responsible for the consequences of that action. Change needs to occur within the police as an establishment in order to reach these individuals. Education needs to happen. In some cases, discipline needs to happen. As far as I'm concerned, the officer who caught me deserves a medal. Unfortunately I don't know who he is or how to reach him. So there we have it: a good cop and a bad cop. Both exist. Do you want to help me change things? Like my page and share my post...it'll change the world!

Handicapped. Disabled. Gimp. Cripple. The words echo in my mind. I don't know where they come from. I need new words. Confident. Beautiful. Funny. Compassionate. Smart. Engaging. Selfless. Me. I am not defined by how I get around. I am not defined by what I cannot do. I am defined by what I choose to do. I am defined by who I choose to be.