I was abused in Tesco for wearing my hidden disability lanyard due to endometriosis – a woman told me I ‘look fine’

A WOMAN with debilitating endometriosis was abused when wearing her hidden disability lanyard in a Tesco queue – because she looks ‘too well’. 

Ella-Joy Hunton, 20, was ‘minding her own business’ in the supermarket, when another shopper snapped at her for wearing her Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard.

It lets people know Ella-Joy, from Stockon-on-Tees, could become unwell at any time or need extra time and assistance, but one woman wasn’t convinced. 

Ella-Joy claims she told her off for wearing one, as she doesn’t look sick enough. 

The music student said: “I was in the queue outside of Tesco on my own, and a woman turned around and said to me ‘you know those lanyards are for disabled people – you look fine to me’.

“I was really taken back by it but I didn’t have to justify myself.

“I also didn’t want to waste my energy as I still had to walk around Tesco and walk home.

“I just smiled and nodded. Sometimes you can’t reason with people like that.”

Ella-Joy wears the lanyard due to her endometriosis, which is where endometrial tissue grows on the ovaries, bowel, and tissues lining the pelvis, causing severe pain. 

She was diagnosed in 2017 via surgery, and while it relieved her symptoms for five months Ella-Joy is now on heavy medication, and sometimes collapses or throws up due to the pain. 

Ella-Joy says she’s unable to lead a normal life due to the pain.

After feeling for years she didn’t ‘deserve’ to wear the lanyard as she appears in good health and looks ‘normal’, Ella-Joy has begun wearing it to give herself and the condition the recognition it needs. 

She said: “I first heard about sunflower lanyard which highlights hidden disabilities last year when I was finishing my shopping.

“I sort of had impostor syndrome as for some people endometriosis can only flare up one day a month and not everybody has it chronically.

I was really taken back by it but I didn’t have to justify myself

Ella-Joy

“I decided to give myself the recognition I deserve by wearing the lanyard so I can get the care and help I need.

“I look fine, I’m 20 and a size 12 – like a typical normal person.”

Ella-Joy, originally from New Zealand, is currently awaiting surgery but coronavirus has pushed back her treatment. 

But during the pandemic her pain has been so severe she’s had to visit A&E.

Ella-Joy, who studies at Newcastle University, added: “I’ve not been able to finish learning to drive because I can’t drive on the medication.”

The lanyard also represents her mental health condition, after she developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the death of her dad when she was 14. 

It meant she was unable to follow her dreams of becoming a midwife, as she was unable to study science at A-level due to her GCSEs.

She explained: “I was always an A-A* student and loved school but after my dad passed I felt a disconnect between me and other students because they were complaining about trivial things and I was ironing my dad’s suit for his funeral.

“For the four years of my education – between GCSE and A-level – I was just trying to survive.”

Ella-Joy is in the process of getting cards made for her lanyard about her conditions, explaining if she has an endometriosis flare-up she needs water and a place to sit down, whereas if it’s a PTSD episode people need to know not to touch her. 

She added she was sharing her story to try and spread awareness about the sunflower symbol and hidden disabilities.

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