Cancer Survivor's Restaurant Outing Ends in Humiliation
A courageous cancer survivor has described feeling marginalised and humiliated after a Liverpool restaurant allegedly refused a simple request to accommodate her swallowing difficulties.
Michelle Cummins, 53, from Netherton in the West Midlands, had been recovering from life-changing surgery in September for head and neck cancer, diagnosed just a month earlier. The intense operation resulted in the loss of a section of her lower jaw, causing significant facial swelling and severe problems with swallowing.
The Distressing Restaurant Visit
In late October, after shopping for a Macmillan Cancer Support event, Michelle visited Farina restaurant in Liverpool city centre with her mother. Having recently undergone surgery that requires her to blend all solid food at home, Michelle explained her condition to staff.
She asked if her chosen meal could be blended to make it safe for her to consume. The waitress consulted with the manager, but Michelle claims the request was flatly refused.
"I was gobsmacked by their response," Michelle stated. "I'd already ordered soup but I wanted a main meal. Why should I, or anyone with this health condition, be restricted to soup when they go out for food?"
She described the emotional impact of the incident: "I felt really upset and humiliated. I've got a physical change in my appearance and I suffer from body dysmorphia. To go to a restaurant and have to ask them to blend my food like a toddler is a big thing for me."
Conflicting Accounts and a New Mission
Farina restaurant provided a different version of events. A spokesperson said the team was sympathetic but unable to blend the meal as they "did not have a blender on site." They claimed to have offered soup and, when Michelle ordered a pasta dish instead, their chefs cooked it "as soft as possible."
Michelle strongly disputes this account. "I wasn't given any other option. I was told the chefs couldn't do it. There was no mention of not having a blender. They didn't bring me soft pasta at all," she countered. "I sat there while my mum ate her spaghetti Bolognese."
The experience has motivated Michelle to raise awareness about dysphagia, a medical condition that makes swallowing difficult. She wants the hospitality industry to consider it alongside allergies and other dietary requirements.
"It's set me off on a bit of a mission," Michelle explained. "How many restaurants in Liverpool have that attitude? Part of socialising and getting people well enough to eat with this condition is people having access to nutrition."
Since the incident, Michelle has contacted other Liverpool restaurants and received overwhelmingly positive responses, with many confirming they would happily blend meals if notified in advance.
