Being ill is terrible, especially when it's something serious. Often, people can tell if you're feeling under the weather, but many serious diseases don't have visible symptoms.
Unfortunately, some illnesses and disorders are hidden to everyone but the person suffering — and that means other people may not understand when you're sick.
Lexi Baskin knows exactly how it feels to be ill but not necessarily look ill. She was diagnosed with a grade 2 ependymoma (a tumor) on her brain stem. On July 28, 2017, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
Now, she's in the recovery process and dealing with radiation treatments. Because of her exhausting treatment, she has a handicapped tag for her car.
She went out one day and parked in a handicapped spot, but when she returned to her car, it was covered in "shame on you" signs.
Lexi turned to Facebook to address the "shame on you" notes, and her response immediately got a lot of attention.
Lexi shared her story on the Facebook page Love What Matters, and it got a ton of engagement.
Within a day, the post had over 23,000 reactions and 6,800 shares!
Lexi wrote:
Just a gentle reminder that you have no idea what is going on in other people’s lives.
This is my car and I am legally allowed to park in handicap spaces due to cancer treatment and exhaustion.
Just because you can't physically observe something does not mean that a person is not feeling it.
I had a grade 2 ependymoma on my brain stem. It was removed July 28th and I started radiation 5 weeks ago today.
I have about a week and a half left of treatment and my last scan came back good.
I'm left with a little speech impediment but it's improving.
Just because I look fine in the two minutes I walk from my car to the building does not mean I’m not battling cancer and undergoing radiation treatment.
I am not asking for sympathy, but just awareness that everyone is fighting their own battles, whether you know it or not.
Be kind to people.
Make people cry tears of joy, and not frustration or sadness.
Love one another.
I will choose to love this person and pray for them. I hope that the darkness in their heart is replaced with unconditional love and happiness.
People were outraged at what happened to Lexi, and a lot of them had similar stories of their own.
Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people with legally obtained handicapped tags have been shamed just because they don't have visible disabilities.
It's important to remember that not all diseases, illnesses, and disorders are obvious — but that doesn't mean they're any less real.
Many people who saw the post wished Lexi luck for the future.
One woman wrote, "I wish you all the best with your recovery, Lexi."
If you think everyone should respect people who have disabled tags on their cars, please SHARE this article!
