Cerebral Palsy Forum - Someone Like Me


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Invincible

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Dec 2005
Posts: 2

Someone Like Me Posted: 12-05-05 16:11pm


I have a mild form of cp called spastic diplegia in my legs. I am still able to get around on my own and will soon be driving. I have no serious damage to the brain where it causes retardation, my mental health is fine. I would like to know if there is someone else who is in my shoes. With a mild form of cp but still in control of their mental health, and how they deal with it everyday. I am effected by depression. I often have trouble with accepting myself the way I am. Any help is appreciated.

aleut4

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 10
Location: ohio

Hello Posted: 12-06-05 11:40am


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

bdean212004

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 8
Location: wayland

Hi Posted: 12-06-05 23:57pm


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?

boosouth1991

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 1

Posted: 03-07-06 22:35pm


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 :)

bdean212004

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 8
Location: wayland

Posted: 03-08-06 21:47pm


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:

ssparklers26

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 21 Jan 2006
Posts: 76

My Daughter Posted: 04-12-06 19:16pm


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.

bdean212004

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 8
Location: wayland

My Life Posted: 04-12-06 21:10pm


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 and/or e-mail bdean2 12004@yahoo.Com if like to contact me

anon90

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Birmingham, England

Posted: 07-30-06 20:21pm


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.

bdean212004

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 8
Location: wayland

Posted: 07-30-06 20:34pm


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

anon90

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Birmingham, England

Posted: 07-31-06 17:51pm


Thanks brandy

CoolDude258

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 1

Posted: 08-23-06 09:20am


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.

rixy

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 16 Nov 2006
Posts: 3
Location: uk

Posted: 11-16-06 22:44pm


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

rufus40

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 9

Posted: 05-01-08 23:57pm


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.