Cerebral Palsy is a life-long disability affecting children across the world and I am one of them. I’m writing about this to tell people not only about my disability but how it helps to understand that we are different and that it’s okay to be. According to Cleveland Clinic, between 5,500 and 13,100 children in the United States are born with it each year. Cerebral Palsy affects one in 323 children worldwide.
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain during or shortly after birth.
Although there are different types of brain damage, I had grade four brain bleeds, causing my pyramidal tracts. Specifically, my corticospinal tract was damaged by my brain bleeds, creating two holes in my brain. Grade four brain damage can cause Cerebral palsy, making daily life difficult for you or your child.
Thankfully, they will fill as I get older. For others this may look different; some may be permanent, this can have life-long effects like, having trouble processing information, trouble focusing in school or even in everyday life.
Damage to the motor cortex is one of the causes of spastic Cerebral Palsy, while injury to the basal ganglia results in dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy, characterized by involuntary movement. Damage to the Cerebellum leads to ataxic Cerebral Palsy, causing balance coordination issues, of hypontonic CP, which is characterized by floppy muscles.
Having Cerebral Palsy made me hard on myself due to my off balance and lack of confidence. But I also learned something, I learned to look back at my success. Which helped me know how far I’ve come, so I know I’m stronger because of my disability.
Brain damage affects physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral abilities.
Physical effects typically include: weakness, paralysis (often in one side of the body), poor balance, and lack of coordination. It can also affect speech and swallowing due to difficulty controlling the muscles used for speech can lead to slurred speech.
Some people with this disability can have different emotions due to their disability, making it hard to be positive when you want to be. Coming from experience, it took me a really long time to be able to read, I was hard on myself because It felt like I couldn’t do anything to be able to read, but with time and practice, I was able to read. Emotions are the same, it just takes practice to keep your emotions in check and be able to control them.
Cognitive effects impact attention and information processing. Individuals may have a shortened attention span, and be easily distracted or take longer to process information. It can impede language and communication in the form of aphasia (difficulty speaking, understanding speech, reading, and writing), which can make communicating difficult.
Emotional and behavioral effects include mood and emotional regulation. People may experience emotional liability (rapid mood swings) heightened irritability, anxiety, and depression. It can also impact motivation in the form of apathy or a general lack of motivation (adynamia) to start or complete tasks.
I have spastic diplegia CP. The pyramidal tract is damaged only in spastic Cerebral Palsy. My pyramidal tracts-specifically my corticospinal tract was damaged by my brain bleeds, often leading to cerebral palsy. Spasticity refers to stiff or ridged muscles, making it difficult to move. According to types of Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy guide approximately seventy-seven percent of people with cerebral palsy have spastic CP. It’s the most common type of Cerebral Palsy. It can not be cured but improved through physical therapy.
I go to Physical therapy to strengthen my legs and make it easier to walk and do fun activities of my choosing. Whether it’s walking or running, I still get to do what I love.
There are five different types of cerebral palsy: spastic, ataxic, athtoid (dyskinetic), hypotonic, and mixed type. But what do these different types affect? Spastic CP impacts a person’s ability to control one’s movement by causing increased muscle tone, which leads to stiff or jerky movements. Ataxic CP affects movement, balance, and coordination. Athtoid (dyskinetic) CP causes involuntary, slow writhing movements and fluctuating muscle tone. Hypotonic CP affects motor control, causing low muscle tone that leads to issues with balance, posture, movement, and coordination. It can also impact autonomic functions like chewing, swallowing, and breathing. Individuals with hypotonic CP may have “floppy” limbs, poor head and trunk control, delayed motor milestones, and difficulty with both fine and gross motor skills.
In spastic CP, the injury or problem is in an area of the brain called the motor cortex. The motor cortex plans and controls movement. A child might be born with CP or develop it later. Spastic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor cortex and pyramidal tract, which controls voluntary movement and relay signals to the muscles. This is why it’s sometimes called “pyramidal” cerebral palsy. “Pyramidal” refers to the pyramidal tracts, which are bundles of nerve fibers in the brain that carry voluntary movement signals from the motor cortex down to the spinal cord.
The motor cortex is found on both sides of the brain, and the pyramidal tracts connect each side of the motor cortex to the other. Damage to the right side of the motor cortex causes movement problems on the left side of the body and vice versa. White matter is a type of tissue in the brain that plays a crucial role in information processing and communication between different brain regions. The cerebrum, the largest part of the brain responsible for thinking, learning, and emotion. The cerebellum, located below the cerebum, coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance. Brainstem, Connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord. It controls vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.
Damage to the brain’s white matter, particularly periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), is a leading cause of cerebral palsy, especially in preterm infants.
About seventy percent cases of cerebral palsy are caused by brain injury. But some parts of causes from cerebral palsy like the brain causing it are still not totally understood. The brain is a complex part of the body and is important for learning and discovery use, while some parts of the brain are not discovered, doctors think that it could be a combination of unknown factors and many unidentified genetic or envirormental influences.
Body parts affected
But where are the body parts affected by cerebral palsy? Types of cerebral palsy classified by the affected body parts are: Monoplegia, Diplegia, Hemiplegia, Triplegia, Quadriplegia, and Double hemiplegia.
Monoplegia is a rare type of movement problem that occurs when only one arm or leg is affected.
Diplegia affects two of the same limbs, most commonly the legs. Children with diplegia may also have mild movement issues in the upper body. In many cases, diplegia is caused by premature birth that results in cerebral palsy.
Hemiplegia affects one entire side of the body. The arm is generally more affected than the leg and is distinguished by a rigidly flexed wrist or elbow. Prenatal brain bleeding can lead to hemiplegia.
Triplegia occurs when three limbs are affected. An example is when both legs and one arm cannot move freely.
Quadriplegia occurs when all four limbs are affected. The legs are generally impacted more than the arms. The muscle tone of the trunk can also be affected. Quadriplegia may cause limited control over muscles, affecting talking, eating, and swallowing.
Double hemiplegia occurs when all four limbs are affected, with one side more than the other.
Bullying and Cerebral Palsy
Why is cerebral palsy so hard on people? Cerebral Palsy is hard on children because of their appearance, and hard to learn to love yourself because of your appearance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re different it matters if you’re you.
Freshman Sawyer Fricks said, “The bullying part makes me sad and when I get bullied, I just try to keep going.” Never giving up is very important especially with a disability like Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is very har,d but it doesn’t have to be as long as you don’t let it define you even if it’s a disability stopping you in your path.
Cerebral Palsy is not only hard on kids, but anyone with this disability. It affects how people respond to us having a disability, making us sad or even frustrated of what people think of us.
Everyone’s different in their own special way but the question is: Why do people with cerebral palsy get bullied? According to bullying and special needs. Three in five with disabilities have experienced being bullied at some point in their life or are continuously being bullied for their appearance. How could you help prevent bullying from kids with these kinds of disabilities?
Talk to a parent or teacher if your child has or is continuously being bullied for their disability, if you or a friend have witnessed a person with Cerebral Palsy being bullied how would you want to stop it?
“I would tell them to stop and help the person getting bullied, and it’s not their fault they’re like that, and they can not change the way they are” said junior Brianna Kranendonk
Bullying can happen to anyone at any time but why are we the ones being targeted? Bullies bully us because of our appearance and because we’re different from everyone else and that’s what makes us stronger. Our appearances aren’t what make us different; it’s what we do with our disability that matters. Whether it’s doing your daily walk around your neighborhood or even just walking around your house, it’s not your appearance it’s what’s on the inside that matters.
Some people respond to victims with cerebral palsy say a list of things like: crippled, weak, freak, and more. Yes, words hurt, but you don’t have to let them define you. Yes you’re different from others but it’s okay to be, we’re all a little different in our own ways and that’s what makes you, you.
There are limits to having a life-long disability; many children struggle with cerebral palsy, facing obstacles that not everyone faces in everyday life. But do these obstacles define people with cerebral palsy?
Obstacles are only in our way to make it easier to get to where we want to go in life whether that’s trying to be healthier, or trying to make your disability better; obstacles are just in your way to keep going to your success. And that’s how obstacles make us who we are and to keep going when it’s hard.
Taylorville High School teacher Mr Mannion said, “Working on my self-confidence over the years, it’s a strength for me because I understand what it’s like with students because I work in a special ED class.I still am trying to be more confident but I’m harder on myself because of limitations but I am trying to work on that for myself.”
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of CP. It affects movement, causing jerky or off-balance movements. Having spastic CP, especially this type you lose a lot of calories even just standing, walking or any type of movement in your everyday life. Losing calories makes it more difficult for you to do more activities of your choosing because you’re losing those calories, making you extra tired a lot. Putting more effort in your movement means you burn more calories, having this disability. Which means you burn more just standing or sitting than you intend to, making it more difficult for you to do activities you enjoy because you’re losing calories, making you tired more.
“Getting tired a lot and not having enough energy, I feel like I’m harder on myself sometimes and it makes me sad getting pushed around,” said Brinley Z Kranendonk.
How do parents deal with their child’s disability and mental health? Parents should be aware of their child’s mental health and disability. If your child has cerebral palsy, what would you do to help their mental being? There are multiple ways to help your child and their mental help with this disability: physical therapy helps with strengthening muscles.
“As a physical theripist the absolute joy of my job is seeing kids with Cerebal Palsy and other diagnoses meet their goals and feel strong about how they move. My favorite part is seeing each child’s personality, how they play and what makes them laugh. I love being part of people’s lives and sharing all the joys and also the more challenging times a child and family can experience together. As a physical therapist, I get to help with getting equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs as well as ankle braces, to help kids access their environment, with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. Each person is so different with their strengths. Spasticity, tightnesses and how they move. This can be a wonderful aspect of the diagnosis as the possibilities and growth are so unique to each child. However, this can be challenging as well for a physical therapist as every phase of physical growth, process, and goals for a child with Cerebral Palsy can be so very different,” said my amazing therapist Mrs Megan.
Occupational therapy helps a child do day-to-day tasks. Speech therapy helps with a child’s speaking abilities. And medication helps a child’s movement by taking their daily medications and other problems they may have with their cerebral palsy. Many parents have different ways of dealing with their child’s disability. Medications, appointments, and other therapies to help with speech and other physical issues they may have.
“Well, I have the day-to-day challenges like stretches, medications, and doctor appointments that I take her to. It can be hard seeing a child struggle with having CP and trying to accomplish things,” said my mom, Ashley Kranendonk. A parent may think having a child with Cerebral Palsy is hard and it can be at times. You may feel like you can’t find the time, but it matters in the end to see your child healthy and happy.
Trying to accomplish your daily things you and your child has to do daily is a struggle but for the parents’ side of things, it’s whether you want your child to be healthy in your and their lives in the end. That may look different for every parent and their child, but the worst thing a parent can see is their child giving up. So no matter how big or small your child’s obstacles are with CP, never let those obstacles in their way get the better of them, even if it’s a life-long disability.
So, is Cerebral Palsy a curse or a strength? Some people with this disability may think that life’s not worth it, that their struggles are just there to stop them in their path. I now know that cerebral palsy does not define me and it shouldn’t define you either. Which is why it’s not a curse, it’s a superpower.
Our disabilities not only have limitations but challenges along the way, making us fight for not only our beliefs but our lives. Cerebral Palsy has shown me many things in life, courage, bravery, confidence, and even the ability of perseverance. You don’t have to be different to learn perseverance, you just have to be you, and you is the best you you can be. Curse or no curse, I’m me.
