One of Tristan’s favourite pastimes is looking after his chickens. But between the back doorway of his community housing property and his chicken coop is a short, steep hill. In this space, he has fallen numerous times.
Tristan, who asked to be referred to only by his first name, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), which affects the connective tissue of the body and results in unstable joints prone to dislocation and severe pain. He estimates he falls at least once a week. He can dislocate a hip simply by rolling over in bed. Things that put Tristan at risk include stairs, steep gradients, the unevenness of grass, the slight rise where tile and carpet meet.
