My son has several diagnoses as a result of the perinatal stroke he endured before he was EVEN born. One diagnosis is Cerebral Palsy, specifically right-sided motor disruption. This means that Brendon's right side is impaired and not equal to the left side of his body. He may not run as fast as most kids, he may not be able to pick up his right toe when he runs, he may need assistive devices to keep from falling when he runs, he may need injections to loosen the tightened tendons and ligaments that refuse to stretch with his body when he grows, he made need hours of therapy each week to help him move better and speak better, his right hand is weaker and often times he tucks his thumb into his palm, along with his entire right arm, he may look different sometimes in comparison to other kids his age when he runs, jumps, cuts his food on his plate, writes, he may take longer to speak than most his age because his speech was severely affected..
Yet, he has the most handsome face you would ever lay your eyes on, he is extremely compassionate and understanding of other people, he is highly intelligent, he is very protective of his sister and the ones he loves, he may have to work harder than most to dribble a basketball down a court and shoot a basket but he can do it, he has an awesome sense of humor, he can read at a 4th grade level even though he is only in second grade, he would never even think of getting anything less than 100% on a spelling test, he loves to make up stories about warriors, knights, and vikings, he loves to learn about animals, every day he imagines he has won the BIGGEST lottery so he can own a farm or a zoo, he gives the most amazing hugs and kisses and loves to do so, he tells his family he loves them at least 10 times per day, and this past weekend at a 1 mile race at the 1st Annual Righty Run he ran a 4 minute and 56 second mile placing 4th, he is extremely competitive (taking after a parent of his), every opportunity he gets he raises awareness about his differences so other kids can be aware...
Basically, make it a point to smile at someone who you may look away from because you are uncomfortable about his/her differences but know that if you take just a second to be aware that even though that person may look different on the outside he/she is more like you on the inside and might quite possibly win your heart and change your perspective, even inspire you to become the best person you can be! I opened my heart and have been inspired by some of the most amazing people, my son included!
March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
PS: Babies, even unborn, and children have strokes, too!
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