PrettySick Supply

At PrettySick Supply, SarahCate and Kristie bridge the gap between creators and consumers in the chronic illness/disability community. They spend their time seeking out and sharing people selling all manner of medical and mobility equipment with a twist: it can't just be the same old black and gray and boring. Since launching their site in July of 2017, they've added more than 300 shops in 18 categories and have reached individuals in 59 countries across the world. They've recently made efforts to expand their reach offline as well, trying to raise funds to print and ship out rack cards to be placed in medical and clinical offices throughout the US to reach more people. As part of their efforts, they've opened their own shop- selling snarky tees and other goods with relatable and funny sentiments about life with chronic conditions and disabilities. kofiwidget2.init('Support Us on Ko-fi', '#6ed0fa', 'F1F88F3A');kofiwidget2.draw();

[prettysicksupply]

Christmas this year was always going to be a little odd.  My decision to semi-cut off my trumper family members would have whittled down my visit counts, and with CityDad in Portland, that took 2 stops off my regular holiday rotation.  Add in Covid and the big gathering I almost never skip was of course cancelled.

. My plan, initially, was to buy CountryDad a new set of pots and pans, and drive up to the ranch and surprise him today with a christmas day visit, and one of my pork loin roasts for dinner.  It wouldn't be much, but I figured at least he (and Thor) wouldn't be alone.

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And then 13 days ago, he died.  I'm realizing now- as regular gatherings are cancelled, and part of my family is semi-estranged by an unbreachable political chasm, that the "regular" christmas thing I'm going to miss the absolute most- is Dad.

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That comes part and parcel with his side of the family of course- (we'll be zooming this afternoon at least) and dad being overrun by the grand nieces and nephews, dressed up in tiaras and boas, children lofted upside down by their feet and tickled to happy tears..Most of the 'little' cousins are of driving age (or will be soon), so I imagine this christmas, like last, would be slightly less rambunctious- but it turns out that seeing Dad is intrinsically linked to my feelings about Christmas.  Before he moved here, it was the one holiday we could be sure he'd visit for, and while he and I have had our differences, and conflicts- seeing CountryDad at Christmas is... well, it IS Christmas.

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And while he was always a clueless gifter, dad was reliable when asked for something directly. My first Canon camera, my first off-camera flash, a laptop for photo editing, putting up with a trip to Aaron Brothers to "help" me pick out frames... when we were up at the ranch last week, each wall of the living room carried one of my own photographs.

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One thing in particular that gave dad a leg up over mom- they were both supportive- but mom's support always had these purposeful undertones, whereas dad let me lead the way and followed behind cheering as I went.

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Mom pushed music, music, music, music.  There was no room for anything else.  But dad, well- he'd pump a fist in the air as I hit a high note, but he'd also give me a camera for christmas and help me pick out frames during a visit.  He was a quiet man, but he was always behind whatever endeavor I pursued.  I found my business card (2 different versions) among his papers.

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He never volunteered the information, but there was always a steady, constant willingness to support whatever I was passionate about.

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My vision of Christmas is a gift I already know about, my father settled into a corner of a sofa bedecked in plastic jewelry, bejeweled tiara, pink headband and a gaggle of children heading his way to be "tortured."

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This year was always going to be different, but until 13 days ago- I still expected it to include him.  And that's a hole that won't soon- or ever be filled.  The virus will end.  Family holiday gatherings will resume.  But there will still be an empty spot on the couch.

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Today I'll spend time with KW and Tom; the 3 of us having a small christmas lunch, and that will be lovely.  I'll zoom with the Cousins and Aunt Betsy.  And all of us, in 5 different homes, in 3 different towns, in 2 different counties- will feel an empty space on our respective couches where my quiet, funny, witty father should be.

[traumasurvivors]

You are not terrible for having boundaries.

You are taking care of yourself, and that is important.

You are important. I promise.

[should-be-sleeping]

“You’re nothing like my Autistic child!” Wow, you’re right. It’s almost as if, I don’t know, I’m an adult. With twenty+ years of experience they have not yet had. Because they are still a child. Mind blowing revelation, thank you.

[youngchronicpain]

I don't know who needs to hear this but experiencing muscle atrophy due to limited mobility is not a moral failing.

I used to despise myself when I noticed the muscles I worked so hard to maintain start to deteriorate after months of pain and mobility issues. "I should have worked harder. I should have pushed through the pain. I'm a terrible person for letting this happen." In reality, I was trying my best just to get through my days. And that's okay.

[randomslasher]

You’d think I’d be used to it after, what, 16 years? But it still amazes me how bizarrely chronic pain flares can manifest. 

Like my body is so used to pain that it literally doesn’t even register unless it hits a solid 6 or so on the pain scale, but below that, even if I don’t notice the pain per se, there are other signs. General agitation, clenching and unclenching my hands, moodiness, refusal to speak–and today, what felt like frantic boredom coupled with unhappiness. I was flipping between possible distractions desperately, growing more and more anxious when nothing new popped up in my feeds, until I finally realized I was desperately looking for distraction from my pain, not because I was bored. 

The second I realized that I calmed down. 

Long-term pain is weird, y’all. 

[prettysicksupply]

Hey ya'll, I just want to pop in to make a note that we're still here.  PSS has been fairly dormant since the end of the year because on January 1st, my life basically... blew up.  Well, more accurately- the lives of people I love blew up and I ended up sort of... sitting in shrapnel.  Then, just as things were starting to ease up- well, hello pandemic.

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I have absolutely every intention of getting back to work, adding new shops, adding new resources, designing new gear, adding new sections and pages.  .But right now, I'm quarantined alone, going out as little as possible, seeing almost no one and am using most of my energy trying to maintain my own mental health which I'll be honest- is not always easy these days as I'm sure so many of you understand.

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So much of what I used to do to self-sooth and decompress I just cannot do right now, and at first I was determined to just... keep working, but it was just too overwhelming to try and sit down and focus on doing what needs to be done to update PSS on any platform..It's not over!  We're both committed to keeping PSS a growing and thriving resource, but for right now- as the person who does most of the actual creating and designing- I'm sort of at the mercy of my lesser demons.

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PSS is NOT going away.  I just renewed the domain for another 2 years, I have a growing list of links to add, a list of new sections and categories we want to explore and add, and the minute things ease up for me, mentally, emotionally- and in the world at large- I'll get back to work.

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In the meantime, we so appreciate your continued support, and know that there are still SO many resources already on the site to be explored if you're needing gear/equipment/etc.

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We hope everyone in our community is being safe, taking the necessary time for self-care, and is holding onto hope, as we are, that there will soon be treatment and vaccine for this illness.  

[stimhands]

it's okay if you talk or move in a way that's different from most, you're still lovely!

[legsdemandias]

ADHD and autism is basically being considered rude for the dumbest reasons

[mooncalamari]

those reasons are usually 1. ADHD/autistic person didn’t literally read your mind for the Correct Social Cue(s) 2. ADHD/autistic person has a need or a boundary that doesn’t actually harm anyone, but it’s not a Correct Social Cue thing so you think they shouldn’t

[buildarocketboys]

3. ADHD/autistic person forgot/didn't realise/doesn't know/is just too damn tired to perform the Correct Tone

[fatmasc]

Hot take but you literally need carbs and fat to survive

[pukaiiicho]

but are you sure

[fatmasc]

What the fuck does this mean of course im sure this is a medical fact

[forestspoonie]

look out for your disabled friends right now. reassure us. tell us we matter. tell us we’re not disposable, that we’re not acceptable casualties. tell us you love us.

[autistips]

The lack of accessible bathrooms for children/teenagers/adults who need a changing table is a serious problem. It severely limits access to the community when you can only venture a set distance from your home, and for a limited amount of time. It puts individuals at risk for skin irritation and infections. Parents and caregivers often resort to changing someone on the floor, being forced to leave the location, or have to avoid places entirely due to lack of access

Everyone deserves to have their bathroom needs met with dignity, safety, and respect. Please remember the people who need changing tables when you advocate for accessible bathrooms

[sunlitsuggestions]

hey love, be kind to yourself today

[teratomaquia-deactivated2016111]

[image description: pastel purple background with the words “disabled is not a bad word” in white]

[johnnyjoestarrelatable]

you weren’t a “well behaved” child you had anxiety and were terrified of conflict

[johnnyjoestarrelatable]

“a pleasure to teach” on the report card meant obedient to a fault, a constant need to be perfect to keep “a pleasure to teach” on the report card, realizing you weren’t as perfect a student as you thought when school got tough, and your perfectionism and paralyzing fear of “getting in trouble” is so deeply ingrained in you that you procrastinate everything because if it isn’t perfect, you shouldn’t try at all

[creaturesandamilton]

Sleeping with chronic pain be like: *gets comfortable. Feels pain. Rolls over. Gets comfortable. Feels pain. Rolls over. Gets comf-*

[chronicillschronicpills]

this hurts cause its too fucking REAL 

[hope4gem]

I know the world is scary right now, but it's also true that we can be brave. We can remind ourselves that we will get through this. One day at a time.

[butterflyinthewell]

This is a reminder for autistic people who don’t feel hunger or thirst signals to eat and drink something.