First of all I don't have cp but I take care of children with cp.I am a nurse. I wanted to tell you first of all good luck with your driving! And please take one day at a time to deal with cp. I promise you every day is different and it is up to you to make that difference. :d :d

I have cerebral palsy like you. I let myself get down when I was younger. When I was younger I ask "why me" but now I do a lot like I am going to college for early childhood. I am vary involved in our local volunteer fire department. I work in a day care center. I also do sports like soccer, skis, ride my 3 wheel bike, swims, and more. Now I know why I have cerebral palsy to teach and show people about it. When I was in high school they did not know what to do with me because I had a brian (smart) but I could not write. I was main stream but no one else was who had any kind of a disability was. College was same way I was the 1st kid with any kind of disability in my collage. You cannot let your cp get in the way of your dreams. Yes it may take you longer then most people. If people tells you that you cannot drive or any thing like that. That is when you try that much harder to proof people that you can.

One thing to think about is what would you do with your life if you did not have cp? Would you be doing the same things that you are doing now?

I am glad that there are some people out there that have some of that I go through. Question...I have the problem that I am very smart but, b.C of cp I sound retarted...So I dont really make a good first impression on people? Does anyone else have this problem? B.C I am still in high school and trying to decide what to do with my life, and I am afraide to become a doctor or a teacher because I am afraide that if I say hello to people there not going to think of me as smart enough. Could I please get some advice? Thank you :)

Dude what ever you do people think you are stupid just because on how you talk or walk maybe both. Don't let that interfere with your dream. People may talk to you differently but once they know you they will come back to you. I'm in a volunteer fire department and when new people come in or at parades people look at me different because they don't know me. I go to college for daycare. I will tell you right now that when you graduate from high school people will be so surprise that you are going to college.

Keep your head up dude :wink:

Hi i'm the mother of a 71/2 year little girl with cp she is affected with spastic diplegia and also has a moderate case of sensory defensive disorder. I saw your posts and wondered if you all would be willing to tell me a little about yourselves and what it was like growing up with cp. Sometimes I worry so much about how things will be as she gets older. She isn't mentally retarded and is a happy relatively well adjusted little girl. She has been through a dorsal rhizotomy as well as bilateral osteotomies with hamstring lengthining and botox. We always discuss everything with her and try to keep her very informed. We tell her that all the tough stuff we put her through is so when she gets older life will be easier on her. As she gets older we are letting her make more and more desicions about what she wants in the way of surgeries treatments etc. Also she attends therapy weekly. I just wondered if maybe some of you could give me the perspective of a person with cp.

Thanks in advance.

I am brady dean and i'm 22 years old. When I was like six months old I got sick that is how I got my cerebral palsy. Growing up wasn't that hard because cp was all I knew. I hang out with "normal people" they treat me like a normal kids. Now I don't know were you live or your school district but where I live it is a small town so everyone know me they keep a eye on me. Now for the school if your child is very smart put her in main stream classes not in a life skills program you can work on her life skills later at home or something. I use to wear legs braces but I couldn't walk independently and the doctor told me that if I wear them or don't wear them that I will probably will need hips surgery anyways so it was my choice. Does she have an one on one aid? My parents never told me that I couldn't do something because of my disability. I never give up even if I fail. What really help me even now if someone tells me that I can't achieve something because of my disability I try that much harder to proved people wrong.

P.S keep her on p.T may you will need to do it out side of the school district. Yes she will want to quit let her when she is oder then she will realize the important of p.T then she will go back to doing p.T.


Here is my aol name kdrock5857, if like to contact me

Hi my names matt, I am 16 years old and was born with the same condition as your daughter and gone through exactly the same procedures basically i'm just seconding what brandy has said. Because cp is all i've known it didn't affect me growing up, I have grown up in main stream schools and I dreaded the jump to high-school wandering if people would judge me because of my cp but as it turned out most people just looked past it and saw me.

I have been told I can't do something because of my cp and I also try harder to prove people wrong and I get a great sense of satisfaction from doing it. Sure sometimes my cp gets me down, but like any 'normal' boy my age I have a girlfriend and go to parties, I play scoccer, swim, and play video games and soon i'll be going to college.

What brandy said about pt is very true I wanted to quit but my parents didn't let me and once I got a little older I realized how important pt and appreciated why my parents didn't allow me to stop, what you do is up to you but I can guarantee you she will hit that stage.

Hay matt you seem like a cool kid. Keep your head up

brady

Thanks brandy

Hmm this seems kind of old but I felt the need to post

hey invincible, i'm 19 and I have the same condition as you. From a young age I was told that I could do anything I set my mind to, be it playing sports, swimming, riding a bike or whatever. My family never tried to discourage me or tell me it wasn't possible. Folks with cp may walk, talk, act, or look different but inside we're just the same as everyone else. Personally i've been treated normally by everyone I know and interact with for so long that I sometimes forget I even have cp :lol:. I use humor to get through my days, often making jokes at my own expense or challenging my friends to walk like me and see what its like (sorry if that sounds rude or anything to anyone, I don't mean to offend) my opinion is, in the end, be yourself and give it your best at everything you do. As long as that is good enough for you it doesn't matter what others think.

Hi all
has been really nice to read your stories. I am 24 and a single mum to a healthy 3 yr old boy. I have cerebral palsy aaffecting all four limbs however my cognitive and mental function is not affected.
My mum waas in severe distress during labour and my heart stopped beating in the womb which resulted in my cerebral palsy.
As above I was fitted with leg splints and braces but ended up with both legs in casts from my toes to my hips as the splints and braces kept becomming mishapen, then a was issued with special boots and shoes and now can walk unaided but do have a wheel chair and often use a stick or crutches.

As a child I always knew I had cerebral palsy but I never let it stop me doing anything the other kids did, and I was a determined wee mare as soon as someone said I wouldnt manage something I set out to prove them wrong

i found life as a teenager far more difficult- I had speech difficulties and felt very self consious about the way I walked and talked. I stopped telling people I had cerebral palsy ad instead said I was clumsy or lazy as no one ever talked about it in other ways. I got very depressed and had a very low opinion of myself, I saw that accepting and telling people about my cerebral palsy was an excuse or a cop out as to why I couldnt perform a certain task. I guess looking back all the support id had as a child at school changed when I reached high school.

It wasnt until I became pregnant with my son I began to accept the realitys of my disability, I didnt need to work two jobs and go to university to be equal to my peers and I guess my body was telling me to slow down too. My pregnancy was normal and so was the birth. The only thing that was different and difficult were peoples attitudes. I lost count of the number of doctors and nurses who asked if I was putting my baby up for adoption or looked at me like I was just plain crazy.

But we manage fine now that ive learned to stop fighting my cerebral palsy and trying to prove to the world that im worthy enough to exist. I need help from carers now as I have damamged my muscles working too hard but im am mostly independant and I believe my son hasnt suffered at all from my disability if anything its made us closer and determined.

I guess the hardest thing I find to deal with is peoples attitudes and opinions, like pushing a stroller down the street and people sniggering and saying things like look at her with that kid shes a drunk but I guess you just need to smile at their ignorance and hope they never have brain damage or develop any other disability other than ignorance

Hey Invincible,

Its nice to meet someone like me! I never have before! I also have cp, and it affects my legs (mostly). I walk with braces, but I get around okay. Like you, I have bouts of depression. I'm pretty honest about stuff, and I get down on myself a lot. Sometimes, I can't understand why things are so hard to do when my brain works just fine.

Truthfully, I don't make it through every day very well. However, I do make it through most days well. And sometimes, all I have is tomorrow might be better. I just have to wait and see.

Hello,

Nice to meet you! I have mild spastic cp on the left side. Reading your post brougt back memories. When I younger I too had problems accepting myself. It was hard because my family did not accept my condition either. I became very withdrawn and depressed most of my life. I did get married, had children and thought that would cure me. Only a few years ago I got myself a support group that I attend and I focus on myself and I am pleased that I can accept the person I am today. I have many qualities in me that I use to teach people about cp. I look after children in my home and I teach them about my cp and other disabilities. When I find myself thinking negitive, I tun it into something positive. I have a gratitude list that I keep handy and I say a little prayer this helps me. I talk to people and I am learning to love myself. If I am happy with me, than the rest does not matter. I can go on but it might get long. Hope things work ot for you and remember you are not alone

Albertarose

hey everyone

I am 22 and was just diagnosed with mild cp after years of not knowing what was wrong with me. Because I was recently diagnosed I don't know very much about my specific condition, while I have done general research. I was born 2 months premature, and I got really sick at age 2. Everyone thinks this was when I developed cp because when I came out of a coma, I couldent walk, and when I finally learned to walk again it was with a limp. I don't know very much about growing up knowing you have cp, but I remember growing up always feeling different. Because I didnt know what was wrong with me, I thought it was my fault. I developed depression and was treated for THAT, but I was only diagnosed with cp when I took the initiative and went to see a neorologist. Now that I have a label for my klutsyness, limp, tics, I thought I'd feel better but I don't. I feel cheated. Because I wasent treated when I was 2, my bones developed wrong wich caused me a permanent limp. I'm looking for others in situations like mine with maybe more knowledge on the isssue. I want to know if theres anything I can do now or if its to late...?

wow...I just read this and can identify with alot of it. I also had speach difficulties, and many people often thought I had some sort of accent. I also had leg braces, though I didn't know why, and I also always felt different. I was very depressed as a kid, and still go through bouts. Thanx for letting me know theres someone else out there like me

You all are so amazing.... and as for the ones that feel like they are burdens having to ask for rides, errand runs etc... Have you ever heard the story.... it's better to give than receive? You have no Idea what pleasure, and sense of worthiness you are giving someone when you let them help you.. So, look at it this way... you are actually helping them in spirit a lot more than they are you just giving you a ride to store etc..!
I have a cousin who has athroid CP due to accident at birth. She has a very severe case. She is bedridden, but she has a chair she has to be strapped in. We used to go when she and I where younger everywhere with her mom... We went swimming, to the mall etc..
I nor she will never forget the fun we both had. Now that I am older and due to the distances we live from each other I lost contact. She called me the other day..(her mom gave her my number). Her translator was there and it was wonderful to talk with her again. She's having Hemmroihd troubles in a major way right now and is in a lot of pain. She wanted me to go online and see if I could find any information on anyone with CP who had the surgery. Her doctor says the surgery would be to painful due to her cp. She's desperate and searching for answers/new doctor etc.. She can't even sit in her chair at the moment and has had this condition since Aug. 2008. She lives alone in a house and has round the clock attendants. She used to go to the gambling boat etc... but now unable do to the "Roid" problem.. If you would like to send her a note I would love to print them out and mail the emails to her. Her mom is afraid to let her have internet due to the fact she might invite a total stranger over to dinner etc... lol (you know moms!) I know she would love contact with other people who have CP. Her name is Laurie, she is 28 yrs old and has no mental challenges etc.. what so ever, just physical. thanks for any message you might want to send her..

Hi everyone,

Im Crystal, im 19.
I have very very mild CP. This affects my left side making it smaller than the right and also the muscles are weaker. I consider myself extremely lucky as i could have been so much worse off.
Ive never let it affect my life and always loved sport at school and proved people wrong.
About 90% of the people that know me dont think i have any type of disability what so ever. I had to wear a splint when i was younger and special boots but hadn't heard or any other treatment/surgery until looking on the internet.
One regret i have is stopping the physiotherapy, i stopped when i was about 12. I beleive if i had carried on with it then my muscles on my left side would be stronger and more flexible.
The only problem i have with it now is the difference in shoe size and i cant wear heels! lol
I am also concerned that i may get back problems as one leg is shorter than the other so surely thats making my spine wonky?

Just wanted to say your all an inspiration!!

Hey Invincible

Your story might as well be mine. I was born with spastic diplegia which only effects my legs and after many opperation and procedures, I am as close to normal as can be. I was and am not affected metally AT ALL and it can be tough being caught in a twighlight zone. Its like we are not disabled enough to be disabled, and we are not abled enough to be concidered able-bodied, we are somewhere inbetween, lost in nowhere.

Well I have been driving for the last 13 years and am able to do just about anything. Trust me I know what you are going through. Sometimes we ask "Why me?" Why do I have to fall over? why can't I do what others can?...and so on.

But to be honest I understand the questions regarding self-acceptance. But I honestly think we are better equipped to face adversity in life because we have grown up with it. We have had challanges few others have had to face, and to be honest, though I know it might not always seem that way. IT MAKES US STRONGER

I have never doubted myself, and due to that firm belief in myself the world has truely become my oyster. When you find that, you will know what I mean.