What have been your highs and lows of 2018? — Scope | Disability forum
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What have been your highs and lows of 2018?

Sam_Alumni
Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
It is the last day of 2018 and I thought we could take a look back at the highs and lows of 2018.  What have been your best bits and what could you do without in 2019?

For me, the biggest low was losing my amazing nan in June, she was the most wonderful woman in the world and my heart broke, I still miss her every single day.  I also had two surgeries that didnt work and will be having another in 2019.

But the highs have been great too, I was on the Shaw Trust Power 100 of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK, I also won a Northern Bloggers Award and I went on a road trip with my family to America.

What are your highs and lows of 2018?
Scope
Senior online community officer

Comments

  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
    My high has to be starting work with Scope and using trains on my own for the first time ever! I had a fear of this due to an incident as a child.
    A low would probably be my lovely Mum's constant struggle with Universal Credit even though she works her bum off.
    Scope
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  • swilber
    swilber Community member Posts: 26 Courageous
    I have 2 highs which were transferring to PIP successfully with enhanced rates and my daughter jointly won Young Carer of the Year from MS Society.  My low came when my Mum, the most wonderful lady I know, passed away unexpectedly leaving  my Dad alone after 65 years together.
  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Community member Posts: 7,942 Disability Gamechanger
    Being in hospital has been both my high and low of 2018, the low part being that I spent 9 months there but the high was meeting some incredible people :)
    Disability Gamechanger - 2019
  • Deb_Alumni
    Deb_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 180 Pioneering
    My highs were getting my two children through GCSE's and A levels. So pleased I was able to support them and see the results of their hard work on their faces.

    A mixture of high/low was my saying goodbye to my son has he went to University in September my heart ached, but so happy for him as well.

    My deepest low was losing my dearest Dad in October, he had been ill for sometime with IPF and he sadly lost his fight.  I miss him terribly, and as I miss talking to him I have started a 2019 journal where I will write to him instead.
    Debbie
    Online Community Manager
  • kazzer64
    kazzer64 Community member Posts: 1 Listener
    My high was looking forward to a complex left total hip replacement in the hope of changing my life for the better in February.Unfortunately by being told my infection didn’t require antibiotics for 3 wks of feeling ill to taking matters into my own hands & going to a&e to be told I had severe sepsis and wouldn’t have survived if I had left it for 1 more day. I had 3 surgeries in 6 days with the first they removed just over 1lr of puss. I spent 7 wks in hospital & on 2 IV antibiotics & a further 6 wks at home but the sepsis pulled my hip joint out of socket even though cemented in. I then had to have hip removed & now I’m without a hip & have detached muscles in leg as sepsis detached them & leg 4 “ shorter. My immune system is zero forever I’ll & weak . It has effected many organs. This was in August. Last wk they removed another 1/2 litre of puss and no further forward to I’m glad to say goodbye to 2018
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Community member Posts: 2,904 Disability Gamechanger
    My low was my dad passing suddenly in May and having no parents or grandparents living any longer. My high was meeting my dad's half brother at his funeral. My low was going through the pip process ( at the same time) for many months and the tribunal as I don't travel or go to meetings by choice due to agoraphobia and panic disorder.  My high was winning at tribunal for one year. My high was also getting a permanent post with my part time job after one year of being back at work. My favourite thing has been finding the community at scope x
  • Waylay
    Waylay Community member, Scope Member Posts: 973 Pioneering
    Lows: The DWP; being homeless; self-neglect.
    Highs: Discovering how amazing my friends/partners/family are; getting kittens; finding a home.
  • joycefox13
    joycefox13 Community member Posts: 4 Connected
    There hasn't been much in the way of highs.
    Constant garbage with DWP.....being assessed again!! for ESA & PIP. I lost my PIP because I go to the pool???? It's GP referred and in order to  try to maintain my mental and physical health but what's the point of it if you get 'shot down' for it?
    To add to this I have continuous garbage from my granddaughter's mother (I have full residency of my granddaughter) but the mother drags us all to court knowing that she won't win......sickening waste of resources!
    And to top it all I had to put my 13 year old dog to sleep on xmas eve and bury him xmas day.
    One good point..I got my hand op on the very last day of the year......sitting here just now with my right hand in a cast. GOODBYE 2018

  • PostmanPat
    PostmanPat Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    My High, was my then partner being positively reassess for pip, The low she left me on 29 Dec 2018

    I definately need a better year
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    The low was the death of my brother in law aged 52 in February, the high was my daughter getting a first class honours degree and a job with an international investment bank, in between all that has been the ups and downs of my illnesses but the continued support of my wonderful wife.
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • pamla
    pamla Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    The lows are not being able to do normal things some take for granted.
    The highs of my year were watching our adorable Bischon Frise rescue dog learning how to be unafraid, she still has a long way to go but she is slowly getting over the abuse and neglect she suffered on a puppy farm for years. A special high is being told by my eldest granddaughter we are to become great grandparents to her first baby in March 2019. Just being alive

Brightness