January

I AM PWD & a fun run!

Hi Guys!

Believe it or not, I’ve been writing a ton! I am taking a poetry workshop class and being exposed to some very interesting topics and poets (to say the least) Its an awesome class, and I am learning so much about my own writing and how to read poetry.

It doesnt feel like it, but it has already been a whole week since the I AM PWD campaign (see resources). I have been meaning to get on here, but I guess its better late than never! It was a great event though, I was glad to be a part of the action and see what they are all about. It was really cool to hear what everyone had to say and really see how passionate the speakers and supporters of the campaign are about integrating people with disabilities into the entertainment world. Although I could never really see myself as an actress or anything, it was still awesome to see how people like RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad) feel confident and proud to represent people with disabilities who aspire to break the norm and act/sing ect…What I took away from the whole experience is that disability truly is diversity! It is the hope of everyone at I AM PWD that this message will become louder and clearer as time progresses. Awesome!

I went for a nice jog today, it was such a beautiful morning at the beach, I felt so alive! This is a pic I took up above this post. It was one of those mornings where you just feel like you could run a marathon…runners high, perhaps? :p I haven’t been doing a ton of cardio lately but I felt great today…and that was empowering in itself! If you don’t normally see yourself going for walks or jogs, or even just get outside much take a moment for yourself. I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

Off to write some more…good thing I like to write haha

Take care.

-Katy

Me (Katy) with RJ Mitte, a CP star!

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January

TeenCP New Years Weekend Update!

Hi Guys,

So glad that I have the time to get back on here and talk about my latest news to you all. But first, I want to wish you all a happy happy new year! I hope you all were able to celebrate with your family and friends and started your new year off right. Do you have any 2012 Resolutions you’d like to share with us? I plan to write mine down (so they seem a little more permanent, ha!) The weather here has been absolutely amazing here! It’s like a little teaser of summer again– Yesterday, I went to the beach with some friends and ate a delicious local burger joint right on PCH–YUM! Did any of you do anything exciting this past weekend? We never do anything too big out here…just spending time with my family and friends is enough for me.

Well anyway, for those of you who don’t know already, I was lucky enough to be interviewed about TeenCP by a great group of people this past Friday. It is for this show called Live Life and Win that airs on channel 11 on Saturday mornings, pretty cool huh? They feature cool teens who are doing something amazing and inspiring, and they asked to have me on the show! It airs in a few months, but I was so flattered to be asked. For me TeenCP has become such a normal part of my life, that I find it funny sometimes that it has become newsworthy. This was my first experience with being formally interviewed about TeenCP and my life by a team of cameras…it was so funny (I don’t know if that is the right word–”awkward” maybe) to me to have two cameras follow me around for a couple of hours asking me about Cerebral Palsy and all that fun stuff. They did a bunch of close ups, and filmed me walking and showing them how my body is affected my CP… I think I did a good job for my first time, although it was a bit nervewracking for me to be asked some questions right on the spot and really put into words how I feel about CP and having created TeenCP. I’m glad I did it though because as I was asked some questions about what inspires me and why I continue to blog, it forced me to reflect and I realized even more how really thankful to have started TeenCP. It is because of you guys that I continue it and I just want you to know how much talking to you all out there really means to me. This has become such an important part of my life and I hope to continue to have the opportunity to share all of this with you, my friends! So a big thanks to Bonner Paddock, Jeff Dolen, and those who are with the Live Life and Win program for wanting to share my story with the nation!

I have added a few new links to my “Resources” section in the past few days, go ahead and scroll over them if you haven’t in awhile! I also wrote a guest blog on a great social networking site called dimmi, that features everything from disabilities to health and wellness and other obstacles that everyday people like us face at some point in our lives. The link to that will be posted to my “Blogroll” section to the right as well. With the resources section, I just have that there to post not only helpful info for therapies and CP research groups, but also about other people with CP who do incredible and inspiring things! If you have some cool news or CP stars you’d like to feature, go ahead and share with me and I’ll add them to my resources section! I am a true believer in being a team player in the disability community and everyday I am still connecting with some talented and motivational people! So feel free to check out the resources and explore what is really out there.

I think that’s all for now–have a fantastic week! P.S. Cool featured photo huh? I took that last night when the fog rolled in downtown by the HB pier

-Katy

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December

Lunch with some CP stars!

Hi Guys!

What a great weekend we had here in Southern California. The weather was nice, the sun was out in December and I went to lunch down near San Diego with Bonner Paddock and John Quinn, two very inspiring people who have Cerebral Palsy. I feel lucky to know them! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bonner, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for kids with disabilities and is now on track to be the first person with CP to do an Iron Man! John wrote a book about his struggle to keep his CP a secret in the Navy, and has ran several marathons as well! To find out more about their stories, see my Resources to the right of this post and you can buy John’s book and donate to Bonners cause. Both Bonner and John are great examples of living life without limits. It makes me want to get out there and challenge myself physically…. maybe I’ll come up with somethin one of these days :p I had a very nice time talking with John about how he has dealt with CP and his world travels from his time in the Navy. It was great to get a chance to catch up with Bonner on his Iron Man training too! I think it’s awesome we all can relate to each other with our CP and really support one another in the present, and in our future adventures and causes. Thanks to John and Bonner for a fun afternoon, I look forward to next time!

As for tomorrow, if all goes as planned I’m going to stop by UCP-OC in the morning to talk about the Friday Night Club for teens and catch up with Elizabeth the Marketing Director at the center! I think it will be a great opportunity to get the word out to local teens who have a disability and would be interested in joining the fun. The night that I went to was a great experience for me because I still havent met that many teens with CP, so I look forward to more of these nights where I get to connect with others like me. It will also be a great way to spread awareness to the community and show that disabled teens like to have fun and socialize just like everyone else!I feel like that fact sometimes gets lost at first glance with some disabled teens, because maybe we don’t move or speak the same way a normal teen does or but that’s why awareness is so important and the Friday Night Club at the center is a great example of that.

Well that’s all for now, I’m off to wrap some Christmas gifts…so fun! I hope you all had a great weekend and get to relax a little over the holidays. Happy Holidays!

Stay cool TeenCPers–Katy

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September

UCP-OC feature & a quote of the night…

Hello TeenCP!

Before I start, what do you guys think of the new latout? Some of my older posts won’t have a featured image, but I’m still working out all the kinks (with all the tech skills that I have of course, ha!)

Anyway, how awesome is this: United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County is now having me write a monthly post on their blog talking about being a young adult with CP! It is great to bring in such a unique aspect of having CP than most people at UCP are used to…many of the visitors are parents of young children with disabilities, so I am interested to hear their reaction from my thoughts and experiences. I am feeling pretty excited about this, because it brings forth a whole new spectrum of people within this community I would have never had the pleasure of writing to had I not started this blog two years ago! And really when it all comes down to it, I am only in this position because of you all who continue to read my blog! So I thank you for keeping me motivated to keep on writing even when the goings get tough.

Here http://ucpoc.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/lifes-a-journey-with-cp-and-me/ is a link to the little feature for you all to read, but just know that you guys are my number ONE go-to people in the blogging world! I have been doing a lot of writing about CP on OMF and now UCP-OC, (see blogroll on the right) but TeenCP always has been and always will be my home base No one knows any better about living with CP as a teen than you all on here, right?? Anyway, what I am truly getting at is, I am feeling truly blessed right now, to be able to speak out to so many people on so many different levels.
Most importantly, I feel I owe this all to the TeenCP followers and all the moral support you guys give me…I know there is never much action going on in the comments, but some of your emails that I receive make me smile and make this all worth while. Your words help me when I am down just as much as you think that I my experiences help you.

I had a thought jumbled up in my mind all day after I spoke with a friend yesterday about my transition from my home life to college life… and I translated it into this:

The truth may be shameful, it may seem bleak… But recognizing that truth shows that you are not weak.

Over the past few weeks, I have definitely enjoyed the process of transitioning into college, don’t get me wrong here… but lately I’ve been just having some troubling facing some truths of my own. I have been making things so difficult for myself I think, at school…It’s like once the semester came I immediately wanted to crawl up in the fetal position and say NOOOO life is starting!! When instead, I couldn’t see the exciting part of that (YAYYY life is starting!! I am free to be ME all on my own!) And slowly, I am turning my thoughts into positive ones…I am still learning that life is not supposed to be easy, life is about challenges and overcoming those challenges, and living it to the fullest more importantly… change is not always going to be easy… and CP doesn’t make it any easier my any means. I worry about my health, stretching and all of the other fun stuff about having CP brings forth. This dramatic change that I am experiencing as I begin life on my own is making me realize all of this in the truest sense.

Back to what I was saying earlier, once I got off the phone with my friend, it was almost as if a wave of relief washed over me… My friend is right, this is my time, I am free to become who I am meant to be….I am not tied down by anything or anyone! The freedom is intimidating, but it is refreshing. I think that in order to make the most of this newfound freedom, I have to let go of any self doubt I hold, let go of my CP, let go of anything that is holding me back from being strong and CONFIDENT and go for it. Do any college CP friends have any advice out there? Anything you guys learned during a tough change in your life that you would like to share? I think we would all love to hear about it! I hope my honesty allows you to feel like you can be honest on here as well… we are all in this CP thing together, right?

Alright, I am mentally, emotionally, and physically tired now…

Goodnight all!

-Katy

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September

Calling all SoCal TeenCP supporters!

Hi everyone!

So classes are in full swing down here at Soka, and it is taking a lot of getting used to, but I am learning to be patient with myself and my new surroundings!

I would like to share with you all, this fundraiser my family and I are putting on at the end of the month for OM Foundation (www.1man1mission.org) In short, we are trying to raise as much money as we can to help Bonner Paddock, the founder of OMF (and local OC friend with CP! ) in his efforts to build centers around the world for children with disabilities. OMF needs our help, and that is why we are putting on an event at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach called “It’s a Beautiful Life Health Expo.” At the event, Bonner Paddock will speak and share his story with CP, and several other experts involved in Health, Fitness, and Beauty will be there offering deals and informing the public about their services. We will have raffles, prizes, and even a showing of Beyond Limits, a documentary of Bonner’s climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro! We hope to gain the attention of hundreds of people around Orange County who are willing to support our cause. If you know anyone who lives in Orange County, (maybe that’s you!) please pass on this link and get them involved! There are several prizes involved, and when you register, you get in for free! Donations are accepted and encouraged, as 100% of the proceeds go to OMF!! We appreciate all the support and hope that together, we can make this night successful and promising. Here is the link for more information: http://www.healthexpo.tspot.org/# Even if you cannot attend the event, you can still donate to our cause! You can stay right here and click on the button bottom of this site (I think) and all your donations, however big or small will be help!! Or you can go to www.1man1mission.org and donate there! Either way, your money will go directly to OMF and building these centers for children with disabilities all over the world, and right here in Orange County. I hope that you will consider donating, no amount is too small! Thanks for tuning in guys, and even as teens, we can still make a difference.

-Katy

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August

[Attempting] SUA College Soccer with Cerebral Palsy

Hi Guys!

I’m pretty proud of myself for getting back on here within the week haha

Alright, Alright….So what I had promised you all in my previous post is that I would talk about last week when I had the best of intentions to play on Soka’s womens soccer team. Last weekend I was down in the weight room and was approached by the coach asking anyone and everyone who was a female student if they have any experience playing soccer…and so of course I blurt out, “well yeah if 11 years of AYSO soccer counts toward anything” and a half hour later I was on the roster to practice the next day. I was stoked! What freshman who wasn’t recruited (CP aside) gets asked to play on the team. Anyway, I was also a bit nervous going into it…I am a bit out of shape, not nearly enough in soccer shape with the whole lack of balance and coordination that CP joyously brings along. Long story short, I pull out my old cleats and jog it out with the team (all of 13 girls–hardly enough to qualify as a full college soccer team) I knew they were just looking for anyone who had knowledge of the game and could be a body on the field or a sub on the sidline…but after 2 days of 2-a-days my legs were ready to scream bloody murder. Not only that, but the walk back to my dorm room and all over campus was brutal… I was way in over my head, and this pace of game was just too physically demanding of me, I felt. I spoke with the sports medicine trainer and the coach and we decided it was best that I get myself in condition to play soccer and maybe next season I will feel more confident playing alongside these girls. Not only that, but physically, I felt like I could easily injure myself because my ankle is pretty unstable right now. It is so nice though, all the soccer girls still make me feel included and still want me to come out to all the games. So yeah, that was my breif but very intense intro to college sports! Haha…kinda crazy, and I am glad i gave it a shot at least. Part of me wanted to stay on the team just to prove that I could do it, but that is just my stubborness talking and I didnt want to end up hating the game of soccer.

Have any of you played high school/college sports? What was your experience with that, with having CP and everything? Did you feel hindered by your CP at all?

Well I must get back to reading Western Philosophy–Plato! Last week it was Confucius and Lao-tzu…lovin every new bit, it makes me think!

Take Care TeenCPers.

-Katy

Look its little Katy

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August

Going to College with Cerebral Palsy

Hi Guys!

Am I allowed to say that I’ve missed writing to you all? Well in any case, I do! I feel like I’ve been out of the loop for so long, and my life has had a dramatic uproar these past two or so weeks. I moved out into dorm life, I started class yesterday, and I attempted a few days of college soccer all in this short amount of time! It has been a bit rough, and I feel fortunate that I can come on here and talk to you all about my CP issues because I know you will understand.

First– it is interesting to me to realize that I am having to explain my CP to an entire new group of people all over again. Every new place, new stage of life brings this all to the forefront again and it is overwhelming to say the least. I feel like Soka is probably the best, and healthiest place for me to be in right now, as I transition from a high school student to a college student because everyone is so accepting, so tolerant and so free of judgment. It is refreshing and eye-opening all at once. Everyone, including the faculty is so incredibly nice, I’ve wondered at times if this is all an act since we are freshman here on campus. BUT, while everyone is so welcoming, there is always that lingering question–”are you alright, what’s wrong with your foot, are you hurt, why are you walking like that…” I’ve noticed, now, as a first impression– is a time when people learn how capable I am, in the physical sense because I think they fear they may say something wrong to hurt my feelings, or do something that they may think I can’t do because of the way I walk. So far, I have appreciated everyone’s concern when they see me walk, but it is tiresome having to explain myself, or simply acknowledging it day in and day out to each and every person who comes along. It will always be something I need to work on, because openness and acceptance of having CP is rough at times. When I walk, I see the curiousity in people’s faces even before they ask, so some of the time I just respond with, “yes I fine, it doesn’t hurt, its called Cerebral Palsy and it just makes my muscles tighter on my left side so I have a harder time getting around” but I make sure to end it with–”but I’m all good!” because it just puts people at ease I think, when trying to understand. Do you think that I am going about this okay? Any opinions fellow TeenCPers? And yes I know this is something that will go on for the remainder of my life here, but I guess I just need to mentally prepare myself to be okay with all the looks of wonder and such. I will say that I feel so lucky to be at Soka because everyone is so friendly and only here, they only look for the best in people. College is definitely a nice vacation–a nice new start– from the chaos of high school teenagers.

So please, what I want you to take away from this is…. if you are facing some adversity in your life right now–know that it gets easier with time, with age, and with maturity. Both for yourself, and for those around you. Even the other day my roommate goes “okay so I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but today I forgot you had CP” and really, that warmed my heart. I love that she feels comfortable enough to talk openly with me, and I love that she treats me as her equal. After only 5 days of being together, that says a lot about her maturity level. It’s a comforting feeling knowing I am surrounded by people who think very little of my CP.

I want to come back to you all later this week on trying out soccer as a sport in college athletics…so stay tuned! My internet connection here in a foresty canyon in South OC is a bit difficult on parts of the campus, and as of today we have to get our dorm room outlets have to be fixed..so if I dont get back on here within the week it’s not because I dont want to! I have so much more to write…but now its dinner time and I dont want to overwhelm you all with info. Cool? Cool! Bye!

I hope you all are doing swell and dandy!

I took this photo last night as I walked back to my dorm! What a beautiful place to live!

-Katy

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July

Euro Photos Galore (for your enjoyment)

Hey TeenCP! Here’s some photos I pulled up for you (a few of about 1,000) Let me know what ya think!

Happy Friday.

-Katy

The view from our room in Wasselone, France

Friends and Baguettes

Arch du Triumph!

Macaroons, yumm!

Cannons of 1914 in a German WW1 Bunker

WW1 Trenches

Brussels, Belgium

So hip, I couldnt help myself

Le Tour Eiffel

The Mona Lisa

My favorite spot in Paris, Montmartre

: Marie Antoinette’s Garden

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July

TeenCP reporting from homebase :)

HELLO!! Ah it’s so good to be back…..although I’ll admit it was a nice little hiatus from cyber space and my phone…who knew life could go on without constant connection? :p Haha, anyway…How is everyone?? I hope you’ve all been enjoying your summer months. Whats new? Any cool vacations, or individual break throughs?

I guess this is the time where I talk to you all about EUROPE! It was, to say the least– phenomenal! I had the time of my life over there with my sister and french friends. I’ll put up some photos so you can all see what I am talking about… I think what I loved most was just the amount of history to every place we went! If you put it into perspective, the States is a baby country compared to Europe. They have a good couple centuries on us! The architecture, the momuments, the art, the food, the people…it was all so surreal. Every place I went was something new to take in and think to myself, “wow, I am actually standing here seeing this!” Over three weeks I was able to stay with my friend in Northern France near Strasbourgh, (the capital of Europe) visit our friend in Belgium (and spend a day in both Brussels and Bruges) go to an amusement park in Germany, trek through a German WW1 bunker (complete with trenches–wow talk about All Quiet on the Westernfront!), go to a Nazi concentration camp and hear about the French Resistance, visit a memorial for the Battle of Verdun, and a WW1 American Cemetery, milk a mama cow and feed her calf…I also (very hesitantly) ate: escargot, duck liver, two year old moldy cheese, and frog legs!! And LASTLY, we went to Paris for a few days and toured the Louvre, Montmartre (my fav spot in Paris, the art district) saw the Eiffel Tower in both day and night, walk along the Champs Elysees (and have a 9 euro diet coke, gah!) saw Jim Morission’s and Oscar Wilde’s gravesites, and visited the Palace of Versailles and Marie Antoinettes Garden. Oh, and ate lots and lots of bread and nutella, of course I wasn’t one for trying too much of the beer and wine, I suppose alcohol is a very acquired taste haha. Drinking and smoking cigarettes is a very casual, cultural thing in Europe for people my age, which is just such a foreign thing to me… They almost laughed when I told them how uncommon (dont forget illegal) it is for my group of friends to drink and smoke. Anyway, you can see that I was pretty busy the whole time I was there! (in a good way, of course) Everyday I was in awe of all that there was to be seen, and learned, and tasted. Thankfully, I was well fed (maybe a little too much haha) by my friends father who just so happens to be an amazing french chef! Overall, it was a trip I’ll never forget, and dont worry–I journaled the whole way through But, if I had to go back and change one thing, it would be to WEAR BETTER SHOES. Stupid me, wore converse sneakers just about every day and by the time we got to Paris and walked along the old, uneven roads, I thought my toes were going to snap off, the soles of my feet were going to be permanently bruised, and my knees were going to ache like that of an 80 year old for good. I had never felt so much discomfort in my feet and legs before, it was weirding me out. I mean, I’ve walked around cities before in regular shoes, but Europe was constant constant constant. After each day I worried for the next that my poor feet werent going to make it. But nevertheless, I made it, and the 14 hour travel day home helped rest my feet almost completely. I need to be better about realizing that I need to take things slower and wear more supportive shoes. I get caught up in daily life, and that’s when my CP catches up with me! Oh well, That’s the way it is–always has been and always will be. There’s always that part of me who ignores my CP in spite of wanting to be “normal” but then I just get myself in trouble… I’m sure some of you guys know what I am talking about…

It’s nice to be home near the Pacific Ocean and my family and friends though. There’s much to be done before I move out in 11 days! Eek, that’s crazy, exciting, and coming fast! And if you’re wondering, I have not packed a single thing nor have I gone dorm shopping…yay for procrastination! Or maybe I’m just prolonging my denial of the fact that I am actually moving OUT of my childhood home. Now that this is all out in the open, maybe I shoud think about packing…it’d be a good start haha. Where to start? Good think I am not too far–about half an hour away from the beautiful Soka Univeristy of America. Go lions! At least theyre giving us a month before the fall semester to map out classes, meet people, and take an intro course to Soka curriculum and meaning. I am excited to get to know my roommate too! We met breifly one night, and she seems really cool! Shes a beach kid like me from Dana Point, closer to Soka so itll be nice to feel a little in sync with our lifestyles.

Alright, well I am off to hang with some friends–we are in need of bonding time before I head off to college! I still have much more to say, so Ill be back

Take care everyone! (PS. TeenCP is two years old now, wow!)

-Katy

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July

Europe Bound, TeenCP Style!

Hello Hello!

Happy 4th of July!! (well, almost) I hope you are all outside enjoying summertime with family and friends–I sure am!

Well, it’s time…I am off to Europe tomorrow morning for three whole weeks! I actually still need to pack, yikes, talk about procrastination! Before I do go, I want to leave you all with something interesting to ponder over the time that I am gone… this film was brought to my attention by a young woman, Elizabeth, who is interning at UCP-OC. It’s called Certain Proof: A Question of Worth and I’ll post the trailer here to see for yourself because I’d love to explain it to you in depth, but I have yet to see it myself! When I have some downtime before college begins, I’d love to watch this, but since I can’t right now, maybe you can fnd a copy yourself! (Or maybe it’s in independent theaters, I don’t know haha…) Here you go! Let me know what you think, because this has always been, and probably always will be a controversial issue for CP kids in public schools. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ2qzMZDzoE I am intrigued by the description quote, “How do you communicate when the world just does not understand”…. this is so true with CP! Of course I do not have CP to the extremity than many people, but I am sure many of you out there can relate to this quote…. It is hard to explain that CP does not affect the brain’s intelligence level. I have been doubted a few times before, so I realize the truth to this powerful question.

Alright guys, I NEED to get packing!! This is a serious problem. It’s about 5:30pm my time…. I got this! I’d love to write more about what has been going on and all that and talk to you all about some ideas I have for a new direction for TeenCP, but I’ll let the anticipation sink in some more Have a fantastic July everyone! I will be taking a short leave in case I can’t get internet access… if not…pics will be posted!

Oh and, TeenCP’s 2nd birthday is coming up July 26th, how exciting, can you believe it?

Goodbye for now my TeenCP friends! Happy travels, relaxing times, whatever you do with your July, I hope it treats you well.

-Katy

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I AM PWD & a fun run!

TeenCP New Years Weekend Update!

Lunch with some CP stars!

UCP-OC feature & a quote of the night…

Calling all SoCal TeenCP supporters!

[Attempting] SUA College Soccer with Cerebral Palsy

Going to College with Cerebral Palsy

Euro Photos Galore (for your enjoyment)

TeenCP reporting from homebase :)

Europe Bound, TeenCP Style!