Living with Cerebral Palsy: Blessing Amidst Adversity
Growing up, my mom used to tell me there were people that were worse off than I was, when I began to feel sorry for myself. The longer I live with cerebral palsy, the more I can see blessing amidst adversity. I want to share with you a couple of stories of how I have been blessed this week.
Adversity Times 10
Today, a friend was able to come back to church after a long absence. She had to have part of her leg amputated because of cancer. She was now in a wheelchair like me, but she had a smile on her face. She is a survivor!
One of my best friends, much like a second mom, has a daughter fighting cancer too. She is in the fight for her life and had to start yet another chemo treatment this week. How she struggles! What do I have to complain about in comparison?
Long Story Short
I have a question: would I truly know how much my life was blessed, if I did not have the challenges of cerebral palsy?
After my husband decided he wanted out, I took our two small children, came home, and went back to school to become a high school English teacher. I worked really hard to get excellent grades, despite my physical challenges, because I knew it would improve my odds of getting hired at the end of the day.
But, while I was making other plans, I believe God was exercising his own. In 2007, I broke my knee in a car accident. I could not continue substitute teaching or applying for job openings. So, I started freelance writing full time to support my family.
Well, I would like to say I became a smashing success. But, it has been difficult. I decided to keep writing, because I was diagnosed with non-active osteoporosis. I live in the North. So, if I fall in the winter transferring from my chair to the car, I wouldn’t be able to take care of myself or my kids. It takes a lot of writing to pay the bills, and some of you may know what it is like to start a new business. Not being a businesswoman, I have a LOT to learn. It takes a lot more than the ability to write articles to succeed as a freelance writer.
Blessed Beyond Measure
Fortunately, even though economic times are a little tough, I have been blessed beyond measure with wonderful friends and family that remind me of how truly blessed I really am.
Friday night, I drove down to the bottom of our street and realized we had a flat tire. Well, I am as independent as possible, but I needed help.
I called a friend to help me get the tire repaired or purchase a new one, if necessary. He and his son were more than willing to help. They took the car to get a new tire. However, when I got the car back, I had 4 new tires. Seems my tires had something called ‘dry rot’. My friend and his wife decided that it wasn’t safe for me to even drive around town. They ‘gifted’ me with the tires, knowing that I could not afford them for at least another month or two.
When returning the car, I was asked where I was taking my son, when I discovered the flat. Now we could go. While we were getting ready to leave the house, my friends returned home. So, I did not know, until I started the car, that they had also filled my half empty gas tank.
Getting to the Point
So, why am I telling you my story? What does this really have to do with living with cerebral palsy? After all, a lot of women cannot change their tires or afford a new set. Able-bodied people also have helpful friends.
For whatever reason, I was born with cerebral palsy. But, I know that God did not make a mistake. I can think of many people I have met and experiences I have had that would not have happened, if I did not have cerebral palsy.
This is my point. Please do not spend your life dwelling on your disability. Look for the many blessings in you life amidst the adversity. I can guarantee there are some, even if you have to really think about it for awhile. As for me, I am blessed and humbled by events of this week.
January 17th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Very nice article Tina. Very touching stories.
January 17th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Even when life does not go as we plan, there is a blessing in there somewhere. We just have to look for it.
January 18th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
hey Tina
i have cerebral palsy i can walk but both legs turn out and one hand is messed up i have done home improvements for about 26 years now and has been sucessfull at it i also love to build hot rod trucks as a hobby i never let cerebral palsy get to me i look for tomorrow not yesterday we go through good days in bad days there is always tomorrow dont like pity i went through 28 surgerys to get to were i am today if i fall i get right back up try again and like you my wife wanted out so i let her go and moved on she didnt like the looks we got out in public but life goes on please tell your friends who got the tires and gas god will bless them for it they are true friends and im glad you have friends like that may god bless them and tina thank you for adding me has a friend it means alot to me for friends as a friend if you ever need to talk im here for you
January 18th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Ricky,
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing a bit of your story with me, and hopefully other readers-eventually. Personally, I have lost track of how many surgeries I have had in the past. But, I do not think it was as many as 28! I am so glad to meet other people that persevere and do not let cerebral palsy define who they are as an individual.
I started this site hoping to use my ability to write and my experiences with cerebral palsy to help others. But, I think I am going to get the most benefit from it myself. I have already been blessed to meet you and another gentleman. BTW, If you have had hip replacements, William could sure use your help.
I could also use your help. Do you have any ideas for future blog posts that you think other people with cerebral palsy might be interested in reading? I do not want to make this site just about me and my experiences. I want us all to share, help each other out, and make lasting friendships.
Again, thank you so much! I hope you come back again and keep contributing to the blog.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I am completely impressed with the article I have just read. I wish the writer of livingcerebralpalsy.com can continue to provide so much productive information and unforgettable experience to livingcerebralpalsy.com readers. There is not much to tell except the following universal truth: If a program is useful, it will have to be “improved”. I will be back.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I have lived with cerebral palsy for 50 years. I have held a full-time job outside the home, been married and sadly divorced, gotten my BA in English/secondary education while raising two kids as a single mom, and so much more. I am not brave enough to ride the rapids, but I am smart enough to know that I have been blessed. It is my hope that this blog will encourage people with cerebral palsy, and their loved ones, to live life to the fullest of their abilities.
So, if I can “improve this blog in any way, I would value your further input. Let me know how I can further encourage other people like myself who simply want a place to share their experiences, meet new people, and get the most out of this one life we have been given.
Thank you,
Tina Matsunaga
tssm@bresnan.net