The start of my story

    I do not think very many people know this story, but tonight I thought I would share.         I suffered from multiple injuries during my birth, I was very sick when I was born too.  These circumstances basically caused me not to breathe.  When you don’t breathe, oxygen does not travel to your brain.  When your brain does not get oxygen, you dead.  However, I did not die, obviously.  I had to spend ten days in the neonatal intensive care unit, and during this period I did a lot better than what was expected.  My birth did result in me having mild, spastic, ataxic, quadriplegic, cerebral palsy.

    What does mild, spastic, ataxic, quadriplegic, cerebral palsy mean?  Well, mild means that I can move, and my body isn’t as affected compared to someone who is severe.  Spastic means that my muscles are always tight.  Ataxic means that I shake constantly, and I have no balance because of this too.  Quadriplegic means my enter body is affected, from my head to my toes and everything in between.  My speech is also affected.  Cerebral palsy is a neurological disability caused by a brain injury before, during, or up to two years after birth.  My story is not the only way a person can have cerebral palsy.  It can affect anything from one finger to their entire body, and be as mild as barely noticing it to as severe not being able to breathe or eat independently.  Cerebral palsy typically does not result in cognitive delays, this is a very important thing to note when talking to someone with cerebral palsy.

    Well, what does this mean for me?

    Can I walk? Kind of sort of.

    Can I walk independently? Kind of, sort of, not really.

    Can I talk? Kind of sort of.

    Can I feed myself? Kind of sort of. (not without looking like I am two)

    Can I open a candy bar? Kind of sort of.

    Can I sleep? Kind of sort of.

    Can I go for an eight-to-ten-hour day? Kind of sort of.

    Can I tie my shoes? Kind of sort of.

    Can I breathe? Kind of sort of. (gotta love allergies and exercise)

    So I am basically not quite an abled body, and I can’t do everything on my own, however, I am a very independent and stubborn young lady.  I will attempt to do everything that everyone else is doing, regardless of how many times I fall or how I will feel the next day.  I accept the fact that this is a long hard journey but I will keep trying.  I will need to find new ways to tackle and overcome challenges that are thrown my way, and probably kind of sort of rely on people, who I trust, for the rest of my life.

    That picture is of me when I was just a few days old.  My hands and feet were pricked with needles, and it was very unclear what my future would look like.  My mom and dad never gave up hope, and now I can do everything that is listed above and so much more.

    I am extremely lucky when it comes to people with cerebral palsy.  I have never gotten seriously injured, never broken a bone, never needed stitches, and never needed major surgery, all while somewhat managing to have a disability.  It takes a lot of support from family and a few friends, but it is completely possible to live a happy and healthy life.

    With God all things are possible.