Episode 6 - Elysia

A reading from the book Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories from the front. Compiled, with Introduction and Reports by Chrystal Ocean. Copyright 2005. Often quoted by dietitians, Elysia's story makes a strong statement regarding the distinctions among leading a healthy lifestyle, knowing what a healthy lifestyle is, and having the choice to lead a healthy lifestyle. A single mother of four children, one of whom is autistic, Elysia struggles each day to find the energy for tomorrow. It’s not raising her children which she finds challenging. It’s dealing with the counter-productive, inconsistent rules governing British Columbia’s social assistance programs.

They're willing to pay $200 a month on a drug. I would far sooner see that $200 in my cupboard and my fridge. It would go a lot further. Consequently, if we weren't so poor, I wouldn't be so stressed. If I wasn't so stressed and had better nutrition, I wouldn't have this rash to begin with.

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