As a breast cancer survivor and a person with cerebral palsy, staying healthy is very important to me. Exercise helps keep muscles conditioned and it is good for overall health. I am a member at my local YMCA, and I enjoy being active. Before my son came along,…
Most people don’t think twice about going out, whether with a new friend or on a date. Their phones buzz in their pockets with opportunities, and they are able to accept at a moment’s notice. It’s hard to remember that not everyone lives this way. For those…
Being a parent to a child with cerebral palsy can require more involvement than parenting a child without a disability. Your entire world changes the moment you find out your child has cerebral palsy. Sometimes hearing the diagnosis can be difficult. Other times it can bring a sense of…
Preschool-age children are so much fun and their little minds race at full-blast. When a child has cerebral palsy, the fun doesn’t need to stop. In fact, children with cerebral palsy often need stimulation more than someone without it. Love, time, and creativity always go far. Being…
We’ve all heard the phrase “life isn’t fair,” and maybe even said or thought it. Perhaps you’ve whispered it to yourself after failing a test you’ve really studied for, or you didn’t make the team, or didn’t get asked out. But…
Coping with a disability brings a unique dimension to motherhood. Being a good, responsible and loving mother takes a lot of energy and time. Mothers don’t get a practice session or training on how to raise a child. You must learn as you go and turn mistakes into wisdom. With a…
Remember: Life is not a race or a competition. I was supposed to graduate college on May 6. But by the time those graduation photos hit my timeline, I had been medically withdrawn from the university for nine months. I was forced to withdraw during my senior year…
Spring and summer are often a time for travel and adventure. There are places to see and things to do, so never allow your disability to hold you back. Having a disability can make doing things like travel a bit more complicated, but never impossible, especially if…
It feels so good to be writing my column again. I had been unable to write for about a month, unexpectedly. I was on a two-week vacation during and was ill the entire time. Even though I’ve been home for two weeks now, my recovery is still in…
In the last few weeks, I’ve seen an increasing number of news stories about children and adults with cerebral palsy being horribly abused or having their rights taken away. Finding the right words to portray how I feel about these issues isn’t easy for me, but we must address this…