For those who might not know very
much about CP, or need a refresher, cerebral palsy is a group of disorders
characterized by loss of movement or other nerve functions. These disorders are caused by prenatal
injuries to the brain. The disorders can
appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and
muscle coordination. However, these disorders
are not progressive; they do not become worse over time.
'Cerebral' refers to the two
halves of the brain. The brain's outer
layer (the cerebral cortex) has a motor area that directs muscle movement;
'palsy' refers to the loss or impairment of motor function. The problem of muscle coordination is caused
by abnormalities in the brain that disrupt its ability to control movement and
posture.
There are two common causes of CP:
·
The cerebral motor cortex did not develop normally
during prenatal growth.
·
The brain suffered an injury.
A factor that contributes to these
risks is being part of a multiple birth, like a twin or triplet. It is harder for the mother's body to
distribute nutrients equally to multiple infants so there can be deficiencies
to one or more of the babies. One
example is the lack of oxygen in a baby's brain due to the stress of labour and
delivery; there could be an interruption in breathing or poor oxygen supply. A newborn's blood is equipped to compensate
for a short-term lack of oxygen but sometimes it goes on too long. Other sources of damage may be caused by severe
low blood pressure in the mother, rupture of the uterus, placenta detachment,
or problems with the umbilical cord. In
any case, the damage that results in CP is not repairable and the resulting disabilities
are permanent.
When I was born, the doctors said I was too small and likely wouldn’t survive. If I did survive, they said I would never learn much. I would always need specialized care and I would never be independent. Walking was out of the question, and there was no guarantee I would survive long enough to try. Of course, falling in love, working, playing, and making life long friends could only happen in my parents' imagination. Dreams and goals were also out of the question; the doctors assured my family that my brain was too small and would never have the capacity for such abstract thought. Even recognizing members of my family would be beyond my abilities. At seven months old they said I had cerebral palsy (CP), damage to my brain, and quadriplegia affecting all four limbs. Some people use the word "gimped" to describe me; to them, it is synonymous with "stupid". I hear a lot of harsh words: retard, handicapped, slow, useless, and every other name imaginable. As I grew, I learned that despite those labels, I was like anyone else who had a dream or a goal.
Having a disability does not define who I am in this world. Who I am is a determined woman, a family member, a graphic designer, and a writer. I have dreams and goals like anyone else. Yes, I've had to adapt to my circumstances but I can do the same things as many of you can, just in a different way. My disability doesn’t hold me back from what I want out of life. So whenever I hear someone tell me, "You can't do that because of your disability," it motivates me to show everyone that I can.
I believe my life has little to do with having cerebral palsy. On the other hand, it has everything to do with hope, strength of character, morality, and happiness. I have accomplished many different physical things in my life that were not anticipated, such as moving from my knees to standing, completing the manoeuvre on the toilet, and driving a wheelchair. The steps involved are similar to a child first learning to walk. For me, it was a natural progression.
People with CP exhibit a wide
variety of symptoms, such as a lack of muscle coordination when performing
movement, called ataxia; stiff or tight muscles; and exaggerated reflexes
called spasticity. The variations in
muscle tone result in movements being either too stiff or too floppy. My ataxia means that it takes a lot of effort
and control to make my stiff muscles do what I want. It's very easy for me to be tight, but
exercise helps my muscles to move and stretch. I can do most anything that you can do but it
takes me more time and effort to coordinate precise motions like writing or
buttoning a shirt. In addition, cerebral palsy can affect all four limbs, just
one, or any other combination.
Unusual gaits are common, like walking
with a dragging foot, walking on tiptoes, having a crouched appearance, or having
a "scissor" gait. There may be
excessive drooling, difficulties swallowing or speaking, shaking (tremors), or
random involuntary movements. These symptoms differ in type and severity from
one person to the next, and may change in an individual over time. Some people with CP may have other medical
disorders such as mental retardation, seizures, impaired vision or hearing and
abnormal physical sensations or perceptions. It can affect a person’s life in different ways;
one child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive
lifelong care, whereas a child with mild CP may only be slightly awkward and
require no special assistance.
Cerebral Palsy is not a disease. It is not contagious and cannot be passed from
one generation to the next. There is no
cure for Cerebral Palsy at this time but supportive treatments, medications,
and surgery can help many individuals improve their motor skills and ability to
communicate with the world. For more information, here are some
websites that dispel myths about CP:
Although I've discussed the causes
and symptoms of CP, I am more than my diagnosis and prefer to focus on other
aspects of my life.
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