Lost Friends and Hallway Taunts as “Wheelchair Girl”

Day 4 · 7:42:25 · Myriam Bohémier · Jasmine Comeau

• 💔 Many friends disappeared; one said she no longer knew how to talk to Jasmine after the wheelchair.
• 😔 She heard hallway laughter and “there goes the wheelchair girl,” making new friendships very hard.
• 👭 She now mostly hangs out with her sister and her sister’s friends and says she does not really have friends of her own.

Teen social life collapsed under stigma, lost friends, and isolation after her injury.

← Grade 12 Failed; Library Isolation Then College Advocacy | Vaccine Injury Support Program: Six Managers, Then Denial →

Transcript

Myriam Bohémier · 7:42:25

Now, for teenagers, their social life is usually the most important thing Can you share with us how this affected your social life and friendships?

Jasmine Comeau · 7:42:39

I lost many friends because of this. One of my friends told me she didn't know how to talk to me after being in a wheelchair. Um, I remember High school, I was, you know, going down the hallway and I could hear people laughing at me. There goes the wheelchair girl. I've been laughed at and I've lost many friends. It's been very hard to meet people and make friends. My sister has been— I've been mostly hanging out with my sister and her friends.

Jasmine Comeau · 7:43:47

I don't really have any Friends.