“He has cerebral palsy. It’s not something that will get worse . . . “
I hear the doctor, but the room begins spinning in my head. Cerebral palsy? How? My son had just started taking steps days before the MRI. This MRI was supposed to rule out reasons for developmental delays.
The doctor continues, “By starting therapies so young, his brain has had a chance to work around injury. His case is mild. Continue current therapies and add speech therapy. We will watch for any learning disabilities once he is school age.”
What is Cerebral Palsy?
March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common motor skill disabilities in childhood. CP is caused by brain damage either before, during, or after birth, or by abnormal brain development.
When you learn someone has cerebral palsy, you may picture someone with a wheelchair or walker. But CP is a broad umbrella and looks different for each person affected.
Each case is unique due to so many factors, such as:
- What caused the damage?
- Where in the brain is the damage?
- What is the abnormality?
A child can present with one side weaker than the other. Another child might not be able to use his or her legs fully and needs assistance to walk. Someone with CP may be hard to understand when he or she speaks. One could be prone to seizures. Cerebral palsy can make certain muscles either too tight or too loose. It takes tremendous effort for a person with CP to do everyday tasks, and he or she may get fatigued more easily.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy. Children with CP become adults with CP because it is life-long. Medical treatments including botox and surgeries, therapies, and devices may help someone with this disability. Each plan of care will be tailored to the individual’s needs. There is no one-size-fits-all.
Our Experience With Cerebral Palsy
My son has a mild case. Most who see him would not even recognize a disability. They may only notice occasional awkward movements or have trouble understanding what he says.
At home, my son stretches to keep his tight side from becoming painful. Years after his official diagnosis, he is still in therapy and other extracurricular activities to improve his balance, endurance, and speech. His struggles are more noticeable when he’s sick or going through a growth spurt. This is because his brain becomes preoccupied and cannot fully focus on his motor skills.
We celebrate the small things, like him being able to open a bag of chips on his own or getting dressed independently. We know those little things are not so little.
While cerebral palsy is a life-long condition, it does not define a person. You can live a full, happy life. My son knows about the “boo-boo on his brain,” how it affects him, and that he may have to work harder to achieve his goals. His condition does not keep him from being a busy, fun-loving, silly boy with big dreams!
Be patient with others, because you never know how hard it might be for them to function. Not all disabilities are obvious.
To learn more about cerebral palsy, here are some websites to check out:
