Living with Cerebral Palsy

If you watched the short video from the last post, then you probably already know what I am going to write about. It has stuck with me all day. Mr. Ring said: “I have cerebral palsy; now, what is your problem?

Don’t you just wish you could say that to the people that stare, yank their kids away, or treat you like you have the intellect of a baby? But, I know that the quote means much more than what you say to a person that doesn’t understand CP.

Recognizing the Problem

We recognize our problem. We live with the symptoms every day. But, there are a lot of people that actually have far greater challenges; but, they are unable to see them. For example:

A drinking problem

Mentally ill

and sooooo much more

I am sure if we put our heads together and took some time, the list would be very long.

The point is really a simple one: People may judge us and our abilities by what they see. Yet, they may have far greater challenges that we cannot see.

Unfortunately, we rarely have the opportunity to point out this fact to the individuals that intersect with our lives. But, maybe thinking about it in a different perspective will help us be more understanding of those people that may not understand what it is like living with cerebral palsy.

Yesterday, I corresponded with a new parent that just found out their baby is living with cerebral palsy. I think this is the toughest time, because you know very little about a disability until it is thrust upon you, and you have to learn.

My heart and best wishes go out to this baby and the parents.

Today, I was reading Only the Manager. It’s so named to remind people that we are only the managers of our lives. God is in control.

I asked if I could repost what I read today on this blog:

Sheilded with His Favor

Mike and I are reading a Psalm a Day right now. One of the things I love about the Psalms is that no matter what your emotion, you will likely find it expressed there. It can really be a helpful guide for praying when you just can’t find the words.

I am praying for some friends who are facing very serious health challenges. It is such a helpless feeling to see someone you care about hurting. I literally woke up one day praying, but my words seemed too pitiful to appropriately cover the situation. I know that God’s work is not dependent on my words, but still, I searched to express my thoughts. Today I went back to Psalm 5:11-12.

I am sure there have been times I’ve read over those verses and just thought they sounded nice. Today, they really speak to me. I love picturing God spreading protection over my friends, shielding them with his favor.

I hope these words bring comfort and strength to people living with CP and their loved ones.

Today, I read an article that made me happy and mad all at the same time. It was about a little boy that was given zero chance of survival. Doctors told his mom that Bobby would be stillborn. Therefore, the best thing for her to do was to have an abortion at 20 weeks.

This is a picture of a baby at 20 weeks gestation. Yes, I said baby. It is not a fetus that isn’t living human being until it is born. I just don’t understand how anyone that has been pregnant, or any doctor that has dealt with pregnant women could possibly think otherwise. It make me so sad.

Bobby’s Future

When you click on the link and read the story about Bobby, you will see that he is a cute little baby boy, and very much alive. Yes. He has some challenges. Doctors believe he will probably have cerebral palsy. Only time will tell. Doctors also were sure that he would be stillborn.

Even if my mother had been given the option to abort me 51 years ago, had they known I would be living with cerebral palsy, I know that she would have told the doctors that it wasn’t an option. I was her baby, and no matter how I came out, she wasn’t going to love me any less than my older brother and sister.

My Soapbox

Yes. I got on my soapbox today. But, I know of one reader of this blog who’s mother was given that awful choice. She is glad to be here; she is so glad her mother loved her enough to give her life.

I will never understand how anyone can dismiss a baby as a “thing” until it is born. How can they feel it move in the womb and see it move on the ultrasound, and think it isn’t really living yet?

Even if Bobby does have CP, his parents are very glad that a doctor did what he could to give him a chance to live, rather than listening to the doctor that gave him up for dead.

I truly believe that God does not give his children more than they can handle. If you are living with cerebral palsy, have a child with cerebral palsy, or have been told your baby will have CP, it means that life will be a little more difficult. But, it doesn’t mean that life won’t be worth living.

You don’t have to know all of the answers today. Instead, take it one day at a time. My own mother always gives me the same advice, when I tend to worry about something:

Does worrying change anything? What if you worry about something that might happen, and it never does?

I am glad to be here. How about you?

Currently, I am writing a batch of articles about Lasik and vision problems, including lazy eye. As I was researching the subject, I realized that many people living with cerebral palsy suffer from this visual problem. It shouldn’t surprise me. After all, the eye is controlled by muscles, and the muscles receive/don’t receive messages from the brain, just like any other part of the body.

Of course, some cases are worse than others. For some people, it is barely noticable. Unless you look at them really close, you may not even notice. For example, I didn’t discover that my eyes don’t track well together until after I was in my 30′s. I was married to a guy in the military, and eye exams were free; so, I had my eyes checked along with my daughter. This particular doctor noticed the problem and gave me exercises to strengthen the lazier eye.

I didn’t realize until years later, when I saw another young eye doctor that this is a very common problem with individuals living with CP.

Correcting Lazy Eye

For some people, it will be hard, if not impossible to correct lazy eye. But, regardless of age, it is a good idea to talk with an opthalmalogist. Usually, the problem is very apparent in the first few months of life. In some cases, one eye totally wanders all over the place, while the other one does all of the work.

Like any other disability, the sooner treatment starts, the better. But, you don’t have to be a kid to seek help. Commonly, a patch is worn over the good eye, so the lazy one has to receive messages from the brain and try to work harder. In other cases, a doctor might recommend surgery to reposition the lazy eye, so that they look more like normal.

As for me, the problem is slight. I don’t really notice I even have a lazy eye, except that I tend to get headaches around my left eye, when I have been using them for two long. I am guessing it is because it is compensating for my right eye being a bit lazy.

Do you have a lazy eye? What treatment have you received, so that your eyes will work better together?

I must confess, I was having so much fun relaxing, I almost forgot to write a post today.

The antibiotic is starting to work; the cortisone shot is making my shoulder better; and, I took a real day off of work.

So, after a good morning at church and a wonderful lunch at my mother’s, with 4 generations of family, I have been reclining, knitting and watching an old television series on Netflix.

Tomorrow, I have to go back to work and push myself to get projects done, do some paperwork, and act like a responsible adult. Today, I got to count just a few of my many blessings. Today, living with CP is just a bump in the road of life, because:

1. My daughter was home for Easter
2. I have wonderful family and friends
3. I have all of the basic necessities of life
4. The sun was shining today
5. I live in a country that gives me the freedom to worship God
6. My mom made frog-eye salad. (It was my grandma’s recipe and I miss her very much)
7. I had an amazing grandmother in my life for 51 years.
8. I have two amazing children
9. Health issues seem to be improving thanks to modern medicine and smart caregivers
10. My son and I are teaching a Vacation Bible School class together this summer.
11. I have the work needed this month. (When you are a freelance writer, it can be a month-to-month thing.
12. I don’t have to get up early tomorrow.

Well, the list could go on and on . . .

Sometimes, it’s just nice to slow down, forget about living with CP or any other challenges of life, and just count the blessings we enjoy.

I hope you had a good Easter too.