Infantilize (verb): treat (someone) as a child or in a way which denies their maturity in age or experience. I'm in my 20's now, and legally an adult. Yet there are still times in which I feel as though I am infantilized by those around me. I was convinced that people treated me like a… Continue reading Infantilization and its Complexities
Author: M
The Beauty of Progress
This picture was taken in November 2011, two and a half months post-op from my fourth orthopedic surgery. I was 17. I captioned the photograph, "No hands," and posted it to Facebook. The photograph's reappearance in my Facebook "memories," recently got me thinking about my progress since this photo was taken. At the time, I… Continue reading The Beauty of Progress
The (Un)Answerable Questions
In a slight continuation of last week's post regarding fate and the question of things being "meant to be," I've pondered these tough questions: Would I be the same person if I didn't have cerebral palsy? My answer is no. There are so many qualities that CP has given me: strength; bravery; tenacity; resilience. Perhaps… Continue reading The (Un)Answerable Questions
On the Concept of Fate
Fate: (noun) the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do I suppose the entire concept of fate, in regards to the above definition from Merriam-Webster, has been a coping mechanism for me and mildly shapes… Continue reading On the Concept of Fate
Being Blessed
Over the years, I've had many people tell me how "blessed" I am. I used to have conflicting feelings about this word in particular, and admittedly wasn't one I would use during the times I felt particularly sad or upset about having CP (I'm only human, after all). That phrase, which sounds kind of like… Continue reading Being Blessed
Saying "Sorry."
Recently, I was at an old cider mill, and in order to get inside had to climb a few stairs. I am able to navigate stairs well, so I didn't consider this an issue or lack of accessibility for myself and my situation (though I very much realize that stairs may be inaccessible for others, and… Continue reading Saying "Sorry."
What Having CP Means to Me
Saturday, October 6th, was World Cerebral Palsy Day. It allowed me to pause and think about what having cerebral palsy means to me. Attempting to answer this question in one single blog post seems impossible and insanely daunting, but I'm going to at the very least, launch the conversation. I found out about my diagnosis… Continue reading What Having CP Means to Me
The Spastic Diplege 