This is my 15 minutes of fame. If you check sites such as the People of Walmart or Reddit you will most likely find this photo.
The worst thing about this photo is that people think a fat woman tipped over a cart because she was too lazy to get out of the cart to get the case of soda.
I have a condition in my spine called spondylolisthesis. In spondylolisthesis, one of the bones in your spine — called a vertebra — slips forward and out of place. This may occur anywhere along the spine, but is most common in the lower back (lumbar spine). In some people, this causes no symptoms at all. Others may have back and leg pain that ranges from mild to severe. The most common symptoms in the legs include a feeling of vague weakness associated with prolonged standing or walking. In my case, the longer I stand the more numb and weak my leg become. I have been known to fall because of this condition.
I am also very obese which does not help the situation in my back. I have learned that due to my mental illness – I have used eating as a way to cope. I fight my weight daily and have recently joined a gym. But my weight is still a battle.
So this happened several years ago (around 2011- 2012). I was at a very low point in my mental health. I also was experiencing a lot of pain and weakness that day. I took a cart because I was grocery shopping for my family. I went to get a case of soda for my husband (He drinks this stuff by the gallons) and I turn and tried to grab a case off the shelf and the cart tipped. I thought I saw a flash of light and heard some young girls giggling. I thought nothing of it cause I am used to hearing people make fun of me or saying snide remarks. It was nothing new.
A few months later, I see this photo on a site making fun of people of Walmart. I have also seen this photo attached to stories that aren’t even true about this situation. The only thing I am glad about is it did not capture my face.
The reason I am sharing this is because people think it is funny to laugh at people with disabilities. You can not see my disabilities but they are there and they are REAL. So next time you see photos making fun of people just remember you know nothing about these people or the struggles they face everyday. It is never just harmless fun to laugh at someone.
Here are a few photos of me to prove that it is me in the photo above.
The Reddit article:
the front page of the internet
Disgusted Walmart Employees Share Stories About Their Worst Customers
Edit: I want to say thank you for the supportive words. I also want to add a few things to clarify some points.
My spine disease starting with degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease usually starts when a person is close to 50. In my case it started in my early twenties and that was before I was obese. After the disc is gone spondylolisthesis happens. Both my parents had a form of this disease and both had to have back surgeries in their early thirties. So there's a good chance my children can get the same spine disease.
My obesity is caused by my American diet and also by my mental illnesses. I have major depressive disorder, PTSD, and avoidant personality disorder. I have experienced several cases of emotional trauma that lead to these illnesses. So I ended using food to cope with my mental illnesses.
The Year We Filmed Everything on Mamamia Out Loud.
My main point in this answer is I did not choose to be photographed at a low point in my life. The fact that people assume I am fat because I am lazy is false. Or they assume I am fat because I want to be on disability. Obese people are treated as less than human and as something to ridicule. I just want people to be aware that fat people are people too.
Edit 2: I just want to get something clear - I am not asking people to accept or condone obesity. Obesity is a major health problem causing many illnesses and diseases. I also am not asking people to pity or feel sorry for me. What I want is compassion, understanding, and respect as a fellow human being. I am a person please treat me like one!
This post was orginally published on Quora and was republished here with full permission.
Top Comments
I feel for you. I've NEVER seen this image as amusing, have never laughed at it. Have felt horrified for you. As a morbidly obese person myself who requires a mobility scooter to get around due to having bi-lateral lymphoedema, it terrifies me at the thought of tipping a scooter. I knew there had to be a story behind this, and I remember thinking at the time I wish I knew what that story was. Thank you for clarifying the situation. Having had my own back go out on me (just by sleeping on my bed, which is why I now sleep on my chair 99% of the time), I can only imagine what you must go through with your condition. I also understand your emotional struggle to go out and about to do things. I joke that I'm a loner and that I have a phobia to crowds, but truth is I really don't handle dealing with the general public well due to the verbal abuse I've gotten in the past from strangers on the street. You are so brave to share your story. Thank you too for bringing the awareness to the problem that obesity is never good. It's sad that many do think obesity is due to laziness, when that's not always the case. For many (like you and me), obesity is a side affect from serious conditions that created a domino effect, and I wish many more would understand this.
I am so sorry this was done to you. You were brave to write this, knowing that although ignorant people would use it to continue you mocking you, it would educate and do some good. As a fellow woman with a disability, thank you
To everyone reading this, if someone you know shares a photo of this type, don't just scroll by, be an ally, speak up and tell them why it's not funny or clever to share these hurtful memes.