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Browsing Tag: cerebral palsy awareness

Cerebral Palsy, Parenting

Relentless Commitment

In the first year of Amichai’s life, he had one PT session and one OT session a week. I was given homework to do in the interim – daily stretches and exercises that worked to strengthen his right side. Here’s the thing with me and homework – I have always done my homework. I have always done the task I was assigned because I believed it would help me get better at whatever I was trying to achieve. I studied hard, I didn’t cut class, and I did my homework. I did the same with sports. I ...
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Cerebral Palsy

Graceful Anger

Amichai had tendon lengthening surgery in the beginning of April. After much research, deliberation, second opinions, and more deliberation – we decided to go through with the procedure. The surgery entailed lengthening two muscle tendons in his right hand and arm – the adductor and FPL. The goal of the surgery was to bring his thumb out of his palm so that he would be able to use his right hand more efficiently. Explaining to a five-year child that he will undergo a surgery is ...
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Cerebral Palsy

The Search for Surgery

After being in the NICU for two weeks, the nurse called me early one morning and casually said, He can come home today. I needed her to repeat that. He can come home today. I felt a wave of relief, happiness, excitement… but it was short lived. Soon those feelings were replaced with another wave of emotion – panic. While Amichai was deemed strong enough to come home, how were they so sure I was up to task? If any mother ever tells you that she left the hospital with absolute ...
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Cerebral Palsy

Being an Athlete

In the spring of 2013, I watched Louisville play Michigan State in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Having no strong allegiance to the Cardinals or the Spartans – just an avid fan of the game, I simply enjoyed watching great plays by both teams. I was about five or six months pregnant, and throughout the game Amichai kept kicking and flipping around. I knew it really didn’t mean anything, but it was fun to imagine that maybe he too was excited by the game I had loved since I ...
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Cerebral Palsy

Driving Foward

Amichai turned five two weeks ago. He’s been quick to point out that five is a whole hand. Like any kid, his birthday is pretty much a big deal and he’s showered with an obscene amount of presents. But each year when his birthday comes around, I inadvertently find myself marking the days after his birth as well. What happened when. A timeline of trauma. July 31: born Aug 1: Eye Infection Aug 2: Oxygen desaturation levels drop, blue baby Aug 3: Still turning blue, rushed to NICU Aug 4: ...
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