Rosie - partially sighted
Rosie (27) is a primary school teacher and has been a Member of MedicAlert for over 15 years.
I became a MedicAlert Member when I was a child after I became ill and lost a lot of my eyesight. My parents had heard about MedicAlert through my doctor & decided it would be a good idea for me to join as I'm very independent & if anything happened I could be given the correct treatment. Since I became a Member I never thought twice about wearing it- in fact it was quite cool when I was younger as my college didn't allow people to wear Jewellery!
As a teacher wearing a MedicAlert emblem I find that many of the students approach me and tell me about their own conditions and emblems perhaps because they know I understand what it's like to have a hidden medical condition. I'm partially sighted and have to take medication without which I'd become seriously ill.
I really love Jewellery and actually have 2 silver necklaces because a few years ago I was due to travel to America & just 2 weeks before I went I lost my emblem! My family & I tore the house apart and it was nowhere to be found so we phoned Medic Alert & explained the situation. My new medic alert was sent out ASAP but funnily enough on the day my new necklace arrived I went up stairs and found my old MedicAlert emblem on the stairs. How it got there we have NO idea..... My dad said it was jealous it was being replaced! But at least now I have 2 necklaces just in case!
Over the past 15 years I've worn an emblem every day, even when I've just been mooching around the house. Who knows when it might be needed? It fits in with my girly style because it's silver it always looks good. I think choosing an emblem very much depends on the style of the person-there's a look for everyone!
Sometimes my condition does affect my confidence as I have scars and can sometimes feel very self conscious. However, I work very hard to just get over this and as I get older I find more people are more tolerant of the way you look. I'm very independent and love doing these things so much that I won't let anything stop me - I drive, play music, love going out with friends and traveling so far I've travelled to America, Asia, and Australia... I always carry spare medication in my purse and wear my emblem so I'm not restricted by anything!
As a teacher my students see me every day and they notice that I always wear the same necklace and ask me why. I explain to them how MedicAlert works and how lots of people have hidden medical conditions. I also tell them that if I don't take my medication I could become seriously ill and that my doctor can be contacted in the event of an emergency.
I'm always in situations where people might not know me. If I needed medical attention then my medic alert would ensure that treatment was received. Also the fact that the phone number for medic alert is international means that I know I've got my safety net wherever I go. It also gives my parents a bit more confidence when I announce I'm vanishing off abroad for a few months! It's my safety net...... It always gives me confidence!
