Zoie
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Zoie is in her 50s and lives with psychosocial disability and lipoedema, an abnormal and irregular build-up of fat cells under the skin.
‘My entire life I've been bullied by the medical profession for being fat,’ Zoie told the Royal Commission. ‘I've had doctors say, "I can see that you eat too much and don't exercise enough," and I say, “That’s not true … let me tell you what I eat, let me tell you how I move." They're not interested … the thing about lipoedema is that it is completely resistant to weight loss, including with stomach banding.’
Zoie said she also has undiagnosed autism.
‘I have enough symptoms of autism to say that I'm autistic, but … I can't get a diagnosis of that, which is a problem, because it means that I'm not treated correctly by medical professionals.’
About 20 years ago, Zoie began losing her sight and asked a doctor for a referral to see an ophthalmologist. The doctor accused her of being a hypochondriac. She saw another doctor, who arranged an appointment with an ophthalmologist, who sent her to hospital.
‘They diagnosed me with benign intercranial hypertension. For a start, it's not benign because you can go blind from it, and you can get dementia from it.’
Several years ago, Zoie’s house burned down.
‘I thought that my parents would … be decent. I went over there, and they put me into hospital, and the hospital said, "We can't look after her," and they decided to put me into aged care.’
Her father was given guardianship.
Zoie said the nursing home staff ‘wouldn’t let [her] walk’ and tied her to a wheelchair.
‘Of course, I lost all mobility eventually and became completely paralysed. I think that would probably happen to anybody who was tied to a chair.’
Zoie eventually left the nursing home.
‘They were already threatening me with eviction anyway, because of my behaviour, which was basically I defended myself against attack by the staff.’
Zoie said that after struggling to have her bond refunded from the nursing home, she bought her own house and is now supported by the NDIS.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.