Ely Bassett
Tell us a little about who you are and what brought you here.
I am a mum of three girls, I’m a registered nurse I work in an emergency department, I LOVE food. I am apart of this story for multiple reasons- one being I have endometriosis and it took 3 emergency surgeries, multiple ruptured cysts, multiple iron infusions from how heavy my period was, extreme pain – all being told was normal- eventually after I begged a doctor – I got a diagnosis. Also 5 years ago I was in a car accident, damaging my spine and right hip which just fractured my world apart. I had surgery, I did all the rehabilitation and I really believed I would be the exception and be the one to go back to how they were before. Surprise. I was not the exception. I live with daily pain, I cannot work more than once a week, and I had to have my third baby at a hospital an hour from me because my hip needed management from a bigger OB team. – have you ever driven 1 hour in labour, through transition? I barely made it into that ward ! Girlfriend walked in and it came out.
What invisible or visible part of your story do you wish more people understood?
That disabilities are not less than just because people cannot SEE them. a very frequent activity in my life is being questioned WHY I’m parked in ACROD parking. Mostly by other people in ACROD bays! “You don’t look disabled” “That’s a disabled parking bay, you cannot park there” “There are others more disabled than you you should move” “Is the ACROD permit for you?” “What’s wrong with you why do you need it” These comments are often and they all stay with me. Making me question if I should even use the bays on days I really need too.
How did it feel to be photographed as part of Desire Lines?
Seen. I did feel very empowered just being there and speaking about my story. I think there is something really special about Marilyn, there was not a single second I felt embarrassed or self conscious or ashamed when I spoke about my story. Even when I showed my scars she made me feel like I was so powerful.
Do you have anything else you would like to add?
That people with similar experiences can feel a little more understood.
This art is not for sale.
People’s pain and hardship cannot be commodified in this space. This space exists simply to inspire anyone who is struggling to cope or searching for a way through.
The art is a gift from myself and every participant. These images capture a moment in time that allowed us to realise that our pain has given us something priceless:
Wisdom and resilience.
They form the desire lines we walk as we move through each new storm we face, again and again.
marilyntuna.art 