Since you asked how to get your point across: This is obviously an emotional topic for you. But I think you need to be patient, and realize that people aren't t

Since you asked how to get your point across: This is obviously an emotional topic for you. But I think you need to be patient, and realize that people aren't trying to be disrespectful. They are doing the best they can with the information they have available. Maybe you could tell your stories. Which country are you from? What happened when your cousin broke his leg? When your aunt had cancer? How do the blind and wheelchairbound fare? Did you ever come down with a tropical disease?