Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Dear Friends,
Well, we are now in March. Each month often brings different awareness days and themes to our attention. Alongside many others, this month marks something close to my heart.
For me, this month has a personal meaning, as it’s Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. I have cerebral palsy, and I thought I’d share a little about what living with it has taught me.
But first, what is cerebral palsy anyway?
Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects how people move, and sometimes how they communicate, because of how the brain has developed due to a lack of oxygen to the brain, usually during birth. Depending on how long the brain was without oxygen affects how severe the cerebral palsy is. In my case, I was left without oxygen for about 26–35 minutes, and my parents were told that I wouldn’t even do half of the things I’m doing now.
So what has cerebral palsy taught me, and what can it teach us?
There have been plenty of times in my life when I haven’t liked having cerebral palsy, because there are things I wish I could do more easily — things like just getting a drink by myself.
However, it’s partly due to my cerebral palsy that I’m where I am today. I have experienced and met some amazing people who have touched my life, and if I didn’t have cerebral palsy, I wouldn’t have met them.
So maybe there are things we struggle with, and that’s okay. They have shaped us into the people we are. Perhaps we can thank God for the ways each of us has been made.
Until next time.
God Bless.
