Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy

By Pete Banda Managing Editor [emailprotected] When Tristan Shafer was born, doctors told his parents that he would most likely never be able to run or play any kind of sport. In fact, doctors informed the parents to prepare for the possibility that Shafer would never be able to walk due to his cerebral palsy. So you can only imagine the amount of joy and intrigue they felt when their son came to them with the revelation that he wanted to join the track team at Riverside Middle school. It would be Tristans first time trying out for mainstream sports team. Tristan has been taking part in the Special Olympics since last year and he really enjoys it, said Tristans mom, Lauren Shafer, who is a teacher at Riverside. He heard on the intercom at school that they were going to be holding tryouts for the track team and he came to my class to tell me that he wanted to join the team It was a little shocking because he had never gone out for any mainstream sports, but I talked to his Dad and we agreed to let him go ahead and do it. Tristan would go on … Continue reading →

A womanwith cerebral palsy has said her condition will never stop her from being successful. Rachael Wallace has spent most of her life overcoming obstacles. She has used a wheelchair since early childhood as a result of the condition and faced years of bullying at school. But the 26-year-old refused to let it get in the way of excelling in life and is now fighting for better medical care for people with cerebral palsy. Rachael who is studying for a PhD in law at the University of Dundee has launched a petition calling for the establishment of specialist NHS treatment for adults with the condition. She recently took her fight to the Scottish Parliament. Speaking to the Tele, Rachael said: There was a decline in my condition about six or seven years ago after I had left the paediatric service when I was 18. I approached Murdo Fraser, my local MSP, who helped raise the issue at Parliament. We werent getting anywhere and because I have a background in law I was comfortable submitting a petition to get some action. Theres no clinical pathway for cerebral palsy sufferers but there is for people with MS or Parkinsons. Its just not … Continue reading →

Students and staff at Otte Blair Middle School held a Green Day on Friday in honor Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Seventh-grader Lexi Jones approached Principal Chris Stogdill and Supt. Rex Pfeil about holding an awareness day at OBMS. Lexi, who has cerebral palsy, wanted to make students and staff aware of cerebral palsy and how students can help them. Students and staff at Otte Blair Middle School support cerebral palsy awareness by wearing green. During the week, students got daily announcements about statistics on cerebral palsy and how a person gets cerebral palsy, and Lexi shared her story with the entire student body about having cerebral palsy. She told of when she was diagnosed, how many surgeries she has had and how it continues to affect her. At the end of her story, Lexi thanked everyone for listening and said, I hope this encourages everyone to embrace, encourage and empower those with disabilities. Throughout the week, students earned prizes during a "Word of the Day": "Awareness," "Shriners," "Cerebral Palsy" and "Lexi." Along with the "Word of the Day," students and staff were asked to wear green and purchase bracelets promoting cerebral palsy awareness.OBMS raised more than $500 for Shriners Hospitals … Continue reading →

Everyone should be able to enjoy trampolines, at least thats how Sky Zone looks at it. TheKennesaw trampoline park, 1650 Airport Road, recently announced it will host a series of sensory friendly events for those with autism and cerebral palsy. Many people with special needs have troubleat events with loud noises, crowds and bright lights, according toSpecial Needs Communities an awareness and education group. The Georgia Symphony Orchestra has hostedsensory friendly performances in Cobb before. And tickets are on sale now for an April 22Zoo Atlanta event for people with autism. Special Needs Communitiestrained the Sky Zone staff on how to make their events sensory friendly. The business does so by decreasing noise, softening the lighting, increasing the staff-to-trampoliner ratio and limiting capacity. The first event is Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m., and future such events will be held on select Tuesdays, according to a news release. For 60 minutes, it costs $9 per jumper or $25 for a family of four. Everyone must wear SkySocks like regular socks but with grips on the bottom which cost $2 and can be reused. Like Cobb County News Now onFacebook | Follow onTwitter andInstagram WATCH: Boy with autism and college football … Continue reading →

Cerebral palsy describes a group of disorders that affect a persons ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Cerebral palsy is caused by brain injury or atypical brain development that happens around the time of birth or early in life. In some infants, symptoms are evident soon after birth. In others, diagnosis comes in later infancy or toddlerhood. Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition, meaning the injury to the brain doesnt change, however, the effects of cerebral palsy often progress as people get older. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you have time to learn how cerebral palsy will affect them. Every child who has cerebral palsy has a unique combination of strengths and challenges. No one can predict where your child will fall within this diagnosis. Having cerebral palsy doesnt mean your child will have cognitive impairment. Only 30 to 50 percent of children who have cerebral palsy have some level of cognitive impairment, ranging from mild to severe. Most people who have cerebral palsy live long, fulfilling and active lives. Early intervention and appropriate treatment can help your child improve their abilities and ease cerebral palsy symptoms. Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare is here to … Continue reading →

A young wrestling fan battling cerebral palsy got the surprise of a lifetime after coming face-to-face with his hero, WWE superstar John Cena, at a recent live WWE event. The little boy is 12-year-old Payton Marion, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. According to his father Justin, Payton is all there mentally but suffers from debilitating physical issues as a result of his condition. As Justin says, Paytons two favourite sports in the world are NASCAR, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling and his favourite athlete by far is John Cena, the 16-time WWE World Champion and one of the biggest stars in the company. The impact these two sports have had on my son have been soothing and very helpful on his development, Justin said. The joy on his face and the fast, rapid movement his little arm goes, when he hears John Cenas intro music is overwhelming and heartwarming. In fact, Justin credits Cena for inspiring and motivating his son during his physical rehabilitation sessions, even referring to his energetic right arm as his wrestling arm. WATCH:WWE WrestleMania 33 stage catches fire after Undertakers exit So when Justin heard the WWE would he holding a live … Continue reading →

TOPSHAM He can neither walk nor talk, but Mt. Ararat High School senior Rusty Wilkins has the drive to start his own cancer-fighting fundraiser. The Rusty Rolls 5K Road Race, benefiting the American Cancer Society, will take place at the Topsham Recreational Field on Foreside Road at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Registration costs $15 per person and $25 per family. Since Wilkins friend, Rustys Market owner Rusty Rancourt, is fighting cancer, they both decided to put all registration fees toward ACS Relay For Life of Brunswick. Wilkins has cerebral palsy, which requires him to remain in a wheelchair; he communicates only through a laptop computer. He has been manager of his schools baseball, basketball and field hockey teams. With cousin James Anderson, he has completed several 5K and 10K events, and two marathons. Rustys Market will offer free food to participants, and the first 100 registrants get free t-shirts. Log onto mtasports.com to register. Here is the original post: Topsham student with cerebral palsy launches road race - The Forecaster … Continue reading →

TIMONIUM, Md. Engineering students at Dulaney High School in Timonium put the finishing touches Wednesday on a special wheelchair they designed for a 9-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. Download the WBAL app For the past six months, the students have been building a therapeutic chair for Chandler Winchester. It's a wheelchair-bicycle hybrid that Chandler's family hopes will eventually help him to exercise his limbs. Chandler's family applied for the device through the Baltimore-based nonprofit V-LINC, which connects volunteer engineers with families in need. High school seniors designed the chair and built it from scratch around a car seat. The young engineers are calling it "Chandler's Chariot." "To work on this has just been fun. Only 12 of us here, we all know each other, all know what we're doing. (It's) just a blast," said Alex Najera, a Dulaney senior. "This has all been their design and their idea, and they worked hard, and they've been so excited from day one to do this for Chandler," said Chandler's mother, Dana Winchester. Chandler's family will spend the next two weeks testing the new chair and making recommendations so students can make any necessary modifications. WEBVTT IS PROM SEASON.DONNA: STAY SAFE ON PROM … Continue reading →

Smallwood told The Huffington Post she originally started herblog, fifiandmo.com,because she felt isolated as a new special needs mom. Her mission has since blossomed into an opportunity to spread awareness, connect with families that have similar stories and raise funds to alleviate the costs associated with Finleys therapies and surgeries. Smallwood predicts on her website that Finley will needdozens of surgeries before she turns 15. Finley and her mom are often photographed in adorable T-shirt outfits, and its no coincidence: partnering with small shops that make shirts is one way theyve built their audience tonearly 60,000 Instagram followers.The brands share images of Smallwood and Finley wearing their shirts, often prompting other mothers reach out to Smallwood to share their stories. They would DM me and say My kid has a walker, too, she said. So it became a great passion for me to get our pictures shared, and it worked amazingly. These two are spreading awareness, boosting small businesses, and doing it all in style. But while Smallwood told The Huffington Post they love wearing mommy-and-me T-shirts, Finleys favorite outfit is either pajamas, or anything with a tutu! More: This 3-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy Is Spreading Awareness In Style - … Continue reading →

Peter Uzoho The Founder of Cerebral Palsy Centre, Surulere, Lagos, Mrs. NonyeNweke, has called on the government to make special provisions to cater for children living with cerebral palsy, a psycho-physical deformity caused by damage in the brain. Speaking in Lagos recently, during a walk tagged Living BeyondLimitation which was intended to help create more awareness on the sickness, Nweke said the Nigerian government had not done anything to help in managing cases of CP in the country, pointing that a lot of parents have their children diagnosed with CP but dont know where to go to for information and counseling. She said government should have a provision for not just children with disabilities but for organisations such as Cerebral Palsy Centres that are managing children with the ailment. Right now we are looking at having our permanent site. We are praying for the government to give us land so we can build a place that the children can have enough space, she noted. She enjoined parents, neighbours, religious bodies and the larger society to stop all forms of discrimination against children and adults having cerebral palsy, noting that they should understand that having a child with such disability did … Continue reading →