Tag: cerebral palsy advice


I wish…

29
December

Sometimes we need things, sometimes we want things, and sometimes we wish for these wants…. we wish for the moment when a dream becomes reality…but we know that this dream is only a dream, and it is in that moment that reality is as real as ever.

Sometimes, I wish for things too…

I wish for nice legs

I wish for pretty toes and feet

I wish for even hips and a straight spine

I wish for the grace of a ballerina

I wish to wear high heels like all of the other fashionistas

I wish to strut a catwalk with an impeccable stride

I wish to sprint, to run faster than a rush of adrenaline

I wish to play soccer, to really play soccer

These wishes are mine, I have longed for these to be true for me quite often…but I am writing this tonight because I also want you to know that these wishes are simply my fantasies. Something to smile about. Would like be better if my dreams were my reality? Maybe. But that is why they are defined as fantasies…they are meant to be better, to be unrealistic, and a little bit irrational. So when I do long for these things to be true, I think to myself, “would I even be the same person if I was a dancer, fashionista, or even if I was a runway model, or a runner, or an athelete?” Granted, my physical health would be more stable, and my future health– a bit more secure if I did not have to worry about my weak hips or my stiff knees and ankles…but this is me and I am proud of who I have become!

Well, I wrote this about two days ago when I was feeling a little yucky inside and had to let this sit with me because I don’t know how this will come across to some of you TeenCPers. I just know that I want to be real with everyone and show that I’m not always “happy go lucky” about my CP–I have my moments when I wish for things to be different, but all in all I know that CP has made me stronger because I have learned not to take the small things for granted. And I hope you can relate to that because that is what I really wish for.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and spent some time with your family and friends. Let’s bring in the new year on a good note, TeenCP! Here we come 2012. :)

I don’t know much yet since it all happened so fast, but I am going to be interviewed tomorrow morning by a national television program about TeenCP and everything I do and have done to get to where I am…I am nervous, but what a great opportunity and solid way to finish the year! I hope this brings more awareness to all us teens out there dealing with disabilities…REPRESENT!

Talk soon…stay cool kids–

-Katy

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CP Resources & Surf City Run!

6
February

Hello!

I hope you’ve all had a great week, and are enjoying Superbowl Sunday! :) Not too much going on this week, although I had a great meeting with members of UCP-OC this past Thursday, we were able to talk about the social media aspect of spreading awareness of Cerebral Palsy. I was introduced to a great resource for people with CP, www.aacpdm.org ….I have yet to dive into it much, but I skimmed it over and they seem to really hold a strong stance for promoting services and research for  CP and disabilities from childhood-on. I’ve noticed that a lot of the time, those with CP who are young children and adolescents unwillingly go under the radar concerning therapy and other forms of aid that can improve the quality of their lives. There are many things that factor into this problem, (money, insurance, reluctant parents) but most of all it is because people are simply unaware of the aid that is out there! So I just thought I’d just post this website for those of you who want to expand your knowledge a bit and just in case you ever want that extra opinion or go-to place about different forms of therapy, rehab, and treatment. For those of you TeenCPer’s who are feeling a bit hesitant to look into getting the help you think you need, go tomy resources on the bottom right and I think there is a great link for teenshealth on CP…you can even shoot me and email if you just want to talk too! I’m still learning so much about the different variations of CP myself, and how it affects all TeenCPer’s in all kinds of ways. This may sound a bt off topic but in Psychology we’ve been study perspectives and how we all hold our own vision of reality, and morals, beliefs, and values…and even a different perspective for how we see ourselves and others around us. It is very interesting to me. I’ve been working on trying to see myself in new ways..and it makes me wonder, how do you see yourself with CP? How does having CP make you feel most days? To what extent does having CP limit the way you perceive the world? No pressure to answer these questions, but our class discussions just really made me curious about the way others saw themselves and reality. :)

On another note, it is a tradition in Huntington Beach to host the Surf City Half Marathon (and Full) every Superbowl Sunday. There was about 20,000 runners on Pacific Coast Highway this morning running their hearts out! It is so inspiring to see, it makes me want to try and do something like that for a great cause. :) One day…

Mom & Sara after they finished :)       

I watched my twin sister and mom run the half, it always makes me feel so proud and emotional to see someone I love work that hard. They did so well, and I was so happy for my sister because she has been training months to get around 2 hours (for 13 miles) and she ran it in 2:08! I wish so badly that I could run alongside my sister, but that’s just a dream of mine. :/ Don’t you ever have dreams where you are running, or walking perfectly normally? I do often, and it feels so real that I wake up so distraught and happy at the same time. I imagine myself running so effortlessly and flawlessly, like a ballerina on water. But then I have to wonder if I would be ther same person had I not been born with CP, and I know that I can’t imagine it realistically. I just wouldn’t be me, you know? Cerebral Palsy is a part of me that nothing could change that, not even my most vivid dreams.

Well that’s all for today, have a fabulous afternoon!

-Katy

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Goodmorning!

7
August

Teen Cerebral Palsy Help

Hello all,

Wow for those of you who have contacted me, thank you!! I love being able to talk about our experiences with you, it’s so special what we share :) Please, don’t feel afraid to speak up about anything that bothers you…I feel that talking is one of the best ways to cope with problems! Also, if you recieved a message/email through facebook/myspace about my blog from Greg Greiner…he is my good friend who is behind the creation of this blog! Don’t be alarmed, he is just as immersed in helping my cause as I am :)

I just spoke with one of the people behind the CP Research Foundation, and she told me that we need to advocate for more involvement in CP research to help kids like us! So if you have any ideas at all about how to spread awareness, let me know and I’ll pass it on to her :) the website is www.cpirf.org

So I was wondering…what keeps you guys going through the day? Is there anyone that has helped you deal with your CP? I am a lucky one, I have an identical twin sister, Sara and although she does not have CP she always watches out for me whenever I need her.

Last thing…has anyone tried out yoga? It is a relaxing and fun way to stretch those tight muscles! Whenever I do you I feel great because I know I am helping my body. I started doing yoga once I stopped doing physical therapy, it was great! I was about 12 years old and didn’t know any better about how much of a mistake it was to quit PT haha….but I just started therapy back up again because not stretching was really hard on my body. =/ It’s been good so far, I am wearing a night brace to stretch and I am going to do serial casting in the fall, where for 6 weeks I will be in a few different casts with each time becoming more annd more stretched out. I know it’ll all be worth it in the end when I am older! What about you? Have you had any surgeries, botox injections, worn braces, wheelchairs etc..??

TGIF!!!

Stay happy and healthy

-Katy

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