Living with Cerebral Palsy

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.