Love Island’s Patsy Says Erb’s Palsy Condition ‘Doesn’t Define Who I Am’

Love Island 2024 is just around the corner, and we’ve already been introduced to a good chunk of this year’s islanders.

Among them is Patsy Field, a 29-year-old office administrator from Orpington, who wants her fellow cast members to know one thing about her before she enters the villa.

“I’ve got something very special about me which is my disability,” she says. “It’s a condition I was born with called Erb’s Palsy. It doesn’t define who I am, but it makes me a little different, although I’ve learnt to get on with it and it’s never held me back.”

Erb’s Palsy is a muscle weakness disorder that causes loss of muscle function in the arm or shoulder. The condition can occur as a result of an injury sustained during birth or due to an accident in later life.

 

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A post shared by patsy field (@patsylouu)

It’s most common in infants whose shoulders are injured during birth. In Patsy’s case, she was born naturally, but says her mother should have been given a C-section. Due to issues sustained during birth, one of her arms is now shorter than the other.

“Pretty much everyone says they don’t notice it, or they have never noticed it before but once I tell you go back and look through my old videos, you’ll be able to spot it,” she said on social media.

“They snapped the nerve that sends messages down from my brain down my spine to my right arm, messages are trying to send, and this computer says no. My arm never grew as much and it doesn’t do anything really, they are completely different lengths.”

 

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A post shared by patsy field (@patsylouu)

Patsy uses social media to raise awareness around her condition, and to remind her followers that you can still be confident with a disability.

“I like to call it my Nemo lucky fin. It is smaller, a different shape and is more bent than the other one. I managed to avoid any bullying, luckily, I’m a confident girl,” she said.

Patsy will be entering the Love Island villa on Monday, June 3rd. She is one of many islanders over the years who have used the series to discuss their disabilities, including fan favourite Tasha Ghouri. 

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