- During the 1960s
- while pregnant with her
- her mother took thalidomide.
- She is blind in one eye,
- partially deaf,
- can barely walk,
- barely dress herself.
- She has arthritis.
- In 2004 she underwent surgery
- to remove a brain tumour.
- She retired from her job
- as a care assistant.
- She was to undergo spinal surgery
- late in 2013.
- ‘It is because of the way I have had
- to manipulate my body over the years
- to try and live a normal life.
- Because we have to use our bodies
- in different ways
- what anyone else finds normal
- has killed us.’
- She and her late husband
- were believed to be
- the first thalidomide victims in Britain
- to get married.
- (Her carer
- helps her make tea
- and brushes her hair.)
- In July 2012
- she received a letter
- saying she must go
- on a training course.
- Her family appealed
- and the decision was overturned.
- Then
- in October
- she was told
- once again
- she should not
- be claiming benefits
- as she could not prove
- she was unfit to work.
- A further appeal was rejected.
- A spokesman for the Department said
- ‘The old system
- condemned too many people
- to a life on benefits
- with little hope
- of moving back to work.
- Now
- people who can work
- will be given help
- to find a job
- while those who need unconditional support
- will get it.’
- She was served with court papers
- and must attend a tribunal
- where she will have to prove
- her disabilities to a judge.
[Daily Star, 16/03/2013, Benefits hell for Thalidomide patient; Daily Mail, 15/03/2013, Blind in one eye, partially deaf and facing major spinal surgery but Thalidomide mother is still found fit to work; The Independent, 15/03/2013, Capable of ‘work-related activity’: Partially blind Thalidomide victim with brain tumour fights Atos decision to force her to attend interviews and put together CV]