Dealing With Cerebral Palsy.
As I began growing dealing with my diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy became harder, between numerous doctors appointments and therapy at home. Every day was a struggle and my parents, grandparents and family tried to figure out what options would be best to help me as I became older and the options that would benefit me and my health in the long run. I was part of a program called 'First Steps' ever since I was little that program was an at home therapy program where my Physical Therapist Connie Simpkins Woods would come to my home wake my stubborn little butt out of bed early and stretch me like what I discribed as a soft pretzel before they make it look like one. I hated when she would stretch me because my muscles were so tight I would scream and cry. But what I didn't realize at the time was that she only had my best interest at heart. I am grateful for the opportunities that I had then to be apart of that program, not only did I grow close to Connie but I also got the pleasure of having her as my therapist all through my school years and she has became one of my really great friends and I'm forever grateful for her friendship. I also recieved Ocupational Therapy at home which is basically therapy to help you with certain skills at home my therapist Alison Allen May also became one of my really close friends at that time we normally played games, played with blocks sang our ABC's and 123's put puzzles together or wrote my numbers and ABC's and numbers on paper. My family has known Alison's Family their whole lives basically so I was really comfortable around her. I've also had numerous surgeries, I've had eye surgery, gallbladder surgery, muscle lengthing surgery, baclofin pump trial surgery and those are just a few I'll discuss those later. When I reached the age of three I was in Head Start I was much younger than the other Children because of my birthday my Birthday is in August and the deadline to sign up for preschool was in October so every kid in my head start class was four while I was three. I met my best friends Kelsey and Katelyn and Ashley during preschool and we shared many memories throughout our school years Kelsey's mother Barbra was a teachers aide in that class and she later he came my personal Paraeducator Aide in school in later years I'll never forget the memories that my best friends & I Shared with them throughout my school years. and the memories I shared with my head start teacher Mrs. Neva Tackett. Those memories are memories I will always cherish forever and hold close to my heart.