Community: Real Life

Post Pals party


Viks

Viks is 24 and from Surrey. She's bed-bound due to Myalgic Encephalopathy (M.E.), but works hard as co-founder of Post Pals, a website community for sick young people.
Entry: 12

Vicky applies to her local newspaper to help fund the Post Pals annual party in the hope of throwing their dream bash.

Balloons

Life has been ticking by with lots of ups but, unfortunately, more downs. However, the highlight was the Post Pal party. Last year's event was quite stressful for me - it's not easy organising a party from a bed with no budget.

This year, I applied for funding from my local paper, which award money to different projects. We applied for £500 and were delighted when they told us that we'd been shortlisted. My heart sank, however, when we found out the 'shortlist' consisted of 77 projects battling it out for 12 lots of funding. Winning the funding seemed even harder when we were told how to get votes: ask your school to get involved; campaign on the street; go around shops. None of these were possible for me.

A week later, a text voting line opened so I launched a Facebook campaign. The power of social networking was confirmed when we got enough votes to win the funding. We were presented with a cheque for £500 at a glamorous awards ceremony. It was a nice evening and the money took the stress out of organising the party, which our treasurer, Jan, offered to host. She's one of those super organised people who plans everything with military precision.

The party was on July 4 and I kept checking the weather forecast as it was outside. We had a large bouncy activity centre, which I couldn't resist having a go on. I suffer from dizziness, which is made worse by sudden movement, so this probably wasn't the best idea. At first I couldn't even get my eyes to focus, but after a while it got easier.

"Apparently, I have a condition of the gallbladder that's very rare in people without gallstones (which I don't have). As a result, I'm being sent for a CT scan of my bowel and gallbladder. Thank goodness for the NHS!"

The kids were as adorable as ever, the entertainer had them all laughing and both adults and children had a great time. One mum's comment summed it all up when her autistic son decided he wanted to interact with a puppet during the show. His sister went to pull him back, but their mum said, "Let him go, today is the one day we don't have to pretend to be normal". It was true - no one needed to explain a feeding tube, a seizure, steroid rage or a dose of chemotherapy. It was just about having a good time.

Towards the end of the party we released a balloon for every Post Pal child we've lost, which is sadly now up to 14. One dad at the party said it was touching, but prayed we'll never have to do it for his son - and I do, too.

It was an extremely tiring day and it would've been nice to have some time to recover, but I had to go to the hospital on Monday for an endoscopy. I sat in the waiting room for 45 minutes and felt awful by the time I got to the bed. I really struggled with the light, even though I was wearing sunglasses. By the time it was my turn to go down I was struggling to keep my eyes open.

I was sedated during the procedure, so I don't remember much of the actual endoscopy. Afterwards, I was wheeled back to the ward where I chatting away, sat up, got changed and demolished my coffee and biscuits before going home.

I didn't have long to recover, as a week later I was back for an ultrasound of my abdomen and pelvis. Apparently, I have a condition of the gallbladder that's very rare in people without gallstones (which I don't have). As a result, I'm being sent for a CT scan of my bowel and gallbladder. Thank goodness for the NHS!


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