What a week!!
So, this week has been crazy!! After my post of the letter to the woman who tutted at me for using the disabled toilets went viral, the website has had over 2 million views and I have been in newspapers, websites, radio stations around the world and even had an appearance on BBC breakfast.
I have been on BBC Sheffield, BBC WM, BBC 5 live, Spin 1038, Rother FM and Hallam FM.
I made it over to Australia and appeared on both The Telegraph and News.com as well as countless smaller news outlets.
Lots of Danish and Swedish websites ran the story too. Plus too many sites than I can mention have shared, reblogged and discussed the story as well as the Metro and Huffington Post.
I have been in the Sheffield Star, daily Mail and the Mirror.
But please don’t think I’m bragging. I am just so pleased that my story, my little blog, my baby has made it into the lives of so many people.
From the start, what I wanted was to make a difference. To help those with Crohns and Colitis to not feel alone, to know there are others who feel the same, suffer in a similar way and that there are a community of people who care and want to make their lives better.
To know I’m part of that, that I’ve made people feel a little better is amazing. I am so proud.
Now, pride is a sin, (I remember this from my Catholic youth!) but I don’t care! I am proud that I have turned the worst two years of my life into something amazingly positive, something that has made a difference to people around the world!
I have received messages from thousands of people telling me their stories. I am honoured that all these people feel they can share the personal details of their illnesses and feelings. I am reading every single comment and email and trying to reply to as many as I can.
I’m in shock to be honest, the past week has sent me from a blogger sat talking about poo in her office to the couch of the UK’s top breakfast show! I am a little overwhelmed by the attention but so blessed that this has happened.
I just want to thank every one of you. Every single read, like and share is making a difference to millions of people. This issue is bigger than the IBD audience that I had originally planned it for. Messages from people with all manner of invisible disabilities have touch and I have learnt a LOT.
Moving forward from this viral publicity, I am more motivated than ever to make a difference. I am in talks with three different charities about how I can help to better the lives of my peers and I am so excited.
I know I come across as this confident, outspoken person who is fearless… Inside I am a 33 year old mum, I am a wife, sister, daughter, friend. I was a teenage mum and constantly worry and question myself. I have a chronic illness that will never leave me and I’m always exhausted. I worry people will judge me on my lack of further education and think I’m stupid. I’m a size 16 woman living in a world where women are judged my their size not their character.
But I’m also a writer.
I want to make a difference.
I want to change the world.
And so this past week has taken me, and all my flaws and weaknesses, and taken me one step closer to my goals.
Thank you so much. You’ll never know how much I appreciate every read, every like, every share, every comment.
You lot are awesome.
Thank you
✌️& ❤️
Sam xx
Congratulations Sam, and well deserved! I’m a reader who can say “I read her back when!” Best to you from across the pond!
Congratulations Sam, and well deserved! I’m a reader who can say “I read her back when!” Best to you from across the pond!
That is so cool and there is for sure nothing wrong about being proud! Be proud and never stop being proud for something so great!
That is so cool and there is for sure nothing wrong about being proud! Be proud and never stop being proud for something so great!
Enjoying what’s happening and feeling like your heart is two sizes too big – ain’t the pride of sin. Go girl. This path has your name all over it!
Thank you xxxxx
Enjoying what’s happening and feeling like your heart is two sizes too big – ain’t the pride of sin. Go girl. This path has your name all over it!
Thank you xxxxx
Congratulations to you! ♥
Congratulations to you! ♥
I was so impacted by your story…best wishes to you
I was so impacted by your story…best wishes to you
Go Girl! grin
Go Girl! grin
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson Second Line View of the News.
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson Second Line View of the News.
Yay!! Good for you!
Yay!! Good for you!
Super news. Chins up, brave humans all! And if for some reason we can’t keep our chins up literally (searches her imagination for a reason why), then chins up metaphorically.
Super news. Chins up, brave humans all! And if for some reason we can’t keep our chins up literally (searches her imagination for a reason why), then chins up metaphorically.
¡Felicitaciones! Saludos desde Perú 😀
¡Felicitaciones! Saludos desde Perú 😀
Congratulations Sam – you are inspirational, as a human being and as a blogger.
Thank you that is so kind x
Congratulations Sam – you are inspirational, as a human being and as a blogger.
Thank you that is so kind x