What is Cerebral Palsy?
One the first questions people ask when they meet me are “so why are you in a wheel chair”? The words‘Cerebral palsy’ are just two words and sometimes it takes slightly more explaining.
Cerebral palsy occurs when the brain has been starved of oxygen or it has not developed properly due to blocked blood vessel. There are several causes of cerebral palsy, one of them being problems during pregnancy such as premature birth or illness. There is no cure unfortunately; however physiotherapy can help to exercise the joints.
Types of Cerebral Palsy differ from person to person. It’s very rare that any two cases are the same, however there maybe some similarities. In my case it affects balance and some co ordination.
Living with Cerebral Palsy
Personally I realize how lucky I am to have the level of mobility I do compared to others. Growing up as I did at school I saw and helped care for a lot of really poorly children and it made me appreciate life so much more. I will always remember one little girl Teri-Ann who throughout her life always had a smile on her face no matter what she had to battle in life I miss her, therefore I believe it’s important to help raise awareness of the condition in all its forms and thankfully there are organizations such as SCOPE that offer advise concerning this.
I would be lying if I was to say I didn’t get frustrated sometimes. I think it’s because I have so much passion for performance it frustrates me that I can’t get up and dance and whilst 99% of the time I remain positive, sometimes there is that 1% that I just think why me? That’s why I long to push the boundaries and peoples perception of what they assume when the see someone in a wheelchair. Yes, to others I may be over ambitious and my goals might seem unrealistic like choreographing, that incorporates some airborne movement, ‘flying in’ effect Torvil & Dean style, but however silly it sounds we all have dreams and whether or not they come true, no one can take them away from us.
Words Taken From
www.raquelmariemason.co.uk
