Re: Venting about Wal-Mart

[Guest guest]

Thanks for understanding. I wasn't trying to turn anyone against Wal-Mart but they seem to be the worst. It was an employee that told J.D. to get out of the chair. My husband, , who usually goes with the flow, was even upset at what happened. Ironically, the news anchor was at the same store to get toys for kids for Christmas. went to a hockey game last night and this same anchor lady was there and he told the crew what happened and they gave him their number. I still cannot believe this happened. We pretty much have overcome the looks. I could tell by looking at J.D.'s face and how he responded that he was not far from crashing.

I do believe everything is for a reason. There must be something very special for J.D. to have to go through the things he has had to endure.

Darlene

[Guest guest]

Darlene -

Good for you for your persistence!!! This story JUST infuriates me!!!

I finally gave up our accessible parking sticker, because people are vicious about it. If you don't have a wheelchair AND a car on it's very last leg, they don't feel you have the right to park five places closer to the front door than they do! Five spaces may be nothing to them, but it can make all the difference in the world to us. I wonder if they would stop being selfish long enough to realize how tough life must be for someone who benefits greatly from being close to the front door if they might actually help me unload my 80 pound child from the car instead of wasting their nastiness on venting ugly remarks.

I frankly think you should sue Wal-Mart. I'm not a litigenous person by nature and think there are a lot of ridiculous lawsuits filed. However, your son could have had a mito crash. (This is no small store! That's a lot of ground to cover, a lot of walking.)

Wal-Mart is guilty of unfair practices with their employees. Now they need to clean up their act with how they treat loyal customers.

I'm fuming!!!

Venting about Wal-Mart

One thing good, J.D.'s power chair was delivered this morning. He loves it!

After therapy today, I took him to Wal-Mart. We parked in the handicap place, he walked to their power chair because we do not yet have a ramp or lift for his power chair. He is 15 and he enjoys his independence by going to electronics by himself. I am with him when he gets into the power chair because we have had rude associates since they see him walking doesn't think he needs a power chair. I have learned to bite my tongue on this problem because I know some kids to play on them so I make sure I am with him then he goes on his merry way.

Well, after I looked in a couple of departments, I went to electronics because J.D. knows to stay where there so I can find him. He was standing and I could tell by his face that he was in pain. I said what happened. He said that someone from Wal-Mart told him to get out of the power chair because they needed it. I thought that I was going to explode but I kept my cool and asked for the store manager. I asked for a chair for J.D. and they had none. Thankfully, we were by the furniture department so he sat on a chair in there. A customer in line told me that he witnessed what happened and gave me his name and number plus 2 other people saw what happened and could not believe it.

After called about 10 times for a manager and about 45 minutes later, a manager showed up. They went and got another power chair for J.D. because I told him that after J.D. was made to stand and walked all the way to the front that he would most likely collapse. All the manager did was apologize. I told him this was not the first time that J.D. has been discriminated against his disability in Wal-Mart. Since I was still fuming when I got home, I called 1-800-Walmart and reported. I also told the manager that I was going to do this.

Our kids should not wear a sign. I still cannot believe it happened. Next Friday the 13th, I am staying put.

Have a great weekend!

Darlene

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

Well, after Darlene's trip to the store on the 13th, they've lost one more shopper that day!

Re: Venting about Wal-Mart

DarleneHow horrible! So was it a customer or an employee who made him get out of it? Thats just awful and I know what you mean about the sign...I feel that way too...that they should not have to wear a tshirt! Even our friends fail to understand and think these same things...the other night, we had our fabulous neighbor over for dinner the other night...it was an impromptu thing...and once it was bedtime, which doens't seem so huge to me, but we were putting a diaper on him...doing meds, water in the gtube, he was upset and not being reasoned with very well, we were putting the blue-pads on the bed and trying to get the autistic one (who is always bouncing off the ceiling settled down) to bed too...he slipped out and went home after peeking in and saying goodbye. I went over after we got them down and he said, he just never realized how much went into it and he was only here an hour...but it meant a lot to me to see it through his eyes.About Friday the 13th...I am not at all superstitious but I heard on the radio today that business lose (however-many) million of dollars in lost revenue b/c of the day...less people shop, go on trips and stuff...funny though...deb Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

I finally gave up our accessible parking sticker, because people are vicious about it. If you don't have a wheelchair AND a car on it's very last leg, they don't feel you have the right to park five places closer to the front door than they do! Five spaces may be nothing to them, but it can make all the difference in the world to us. I wonder if they would stop being selfish long enough to realize how tough life must be for someone who benefits greatly from being close to the front door if they might actually help me unload my 80 pound child from the car instead of wasting their nastiness on venting ugly remarks.

this upsets me...you shouldn't let people dictate how you run your life. Maybe I am too rebelious...that would make me do it even more. You nor your kids should be penalized for people's prejudices! I hope you will reconsdier...us special moms need any little break we can get including a closer parking spot. I find there are waay too many people parking in the places without a permit...I would go off on those people if I had the chance!

deb

[Guest guest]

We also hear all of the time that Audrey looks " normal " , she doesn't

look " sick " . Well, at 16 mos she is still unable to hold hardly any of

her own weight, even though she only weighs 18 pounds, try holding an 18

pound bag of sand for very long. Anyway, Amie has started offering for

people to hold Audrey. Once they do that it is amazing how then they

realize a little more of what is going on. Usually their response is,

" She is like holding a newborn " .

Yes our children do look " normal " , if anyone can really say what

" normal " really looks like. As far as I am concerned, Audrey is normal

the way she is, God gave us this beautiful child to love and care for

and that is just what we are going to do. We have learned not to take

things for granted like a smile or a giggle, a reach of her tiny hand up

to touch our faces, and most importantly, health.

I love all my grandchildren as equally, they all are " special " in their

own way. I have learned that each day with them is speciala.

God Bless all of our children.

Kathy, grandma to Audrey 16mos.

[Guest guest]

Call that anchor then. That will hurt them more than a lawsuit ever would.

Re: Venting about Wal-Mart

Thanks for understanding. I wasn't trying to turn anyone against Wal-Mart but they seem to be the worst. It was an employee that told J.D. to get out of the chair. My husband, , who usually goes with the flow, was even upset at what happened. Ironically, the news anchor was at the same store to get toys for kids for Christmas. went to a hockey game last night and this same anchor lady was there and he told the crew what happened and they gave him their number. I still cannot believe this happened. We pretty much have overcome the looks. I could tell by looking at J.D.'s face and how he responded that he was not far from crashing.

I do believe everything is for a reason. There must be something very special for J.D. to have to go through the things he has had to endure.

Darlene

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

I can only hope to be as knowledgeable as

you are. You are one in a million!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy

interestingly enough, I only joined the group on January 8th, 2002 so thanks to everyone sharing with me, I have had a fast and hard education about mito...

not something I wish people had to be educated about but it is for us. There is a verse somewhere in the Bible that says "for lack of knowlege, my people perish". Which isn't exactly the same, but I feel like if you aren't educated then our children pay...

I am very thankful for this group...I remember last Christmas we were told had a neuromuscular disease but didn't know which one and things sort of evolved for us. Then in February the neurologist told us there was nothing else to be done here (and knowing what i know now, they hadn't done anything but it was a blessing to be given up on that quick) and the minute he said it, I told him I knew just where I wanted to take ...to see Shoffner...i had already learned, fresh is best and he is the man!

So you will know as much as I do before you know it and I still know so so little, but scarily enough it is way more than the average doc!

deb

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kathy

-----Original Message-----From: klboone@... Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 9:34 AMTo: Mito Subject: RE: Venting about Wal-MartWe also hear all of the time that Audrey looks "normal", she doesn'tlook "sick". Well, at 16 mos she is still unable to hold hardly any ofher own weight, even though she only weighs 18 pounds, try holding an 18pound bag of sand for very long. Anyway, Amie has started offering forpeople to hold Audrey. Once they do that it is amazing how then theyrealize a little more of what is going on. Usually their response is,"She is like holding a newborn".Yes our children do look "normal", if anyone can really say what"normal" really looks like. As far as I am concerned, Audrey is normalthe way she is, God gave us this beautiful child to love and care forand that is just what we are going to do. We have learned not to takethings for granted like a smile or a giggle, a reach of her tiny hand upto touch our faces, and most importantly, health.I love all my grandchildren as equally, they all are "special" in theirown way. I have learned that each day with them is speciala.God Bless all of our children.Kathy, grandma to Audrey 16mos.Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

Darlene,

Your positive attitude is such a strength. Maybe JD sees you hold your head high and that gives him strength (that might be the positive thing that will come out of this) You are awesome.

Riley

-----Original Message-----From: Darlene Graham Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 7:18 AMTo: Mito Subject: Re: Venting about Wal-Mart

Thanks for understanding. I wasn't trying to turn anyone against Wal-Mart but they seem to be the worst. It was an employee that told J.D. to get out of the chair. My husband, , who usually goes with the flow, was even upset at what happened. Ironically, the news anchor was at the same store to get toys for kids for Christmas. went to a hockey game last night and this same anchor lady was there and he told the crew what happened and they gave him their number. I still cannot believe this happened. We pretty much have overcome the looks. I could tell by looking at J.D.'s face and how he responded that he was not far from crashing.

I do believe everything is for a reason. There must be something very special for J.D. to have to go through the things he has had to endure.

Darlene

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

I agree with you 100% Deb. Plus, just because you can't see the

disability, doesn't mean it isn't there.

Also, Deb, I have to agree with everyone else, you are always so helpful

to everyone on this group. I can only hope to be as knowledgeable as

you are. You are one in a million!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy, grandma to Audrey, 16mos