Brent --
I've been lurking for quite sometime (years, I think) but I figured since
you were introducing yourself, I might as well introduce myself. Well, that
and the fact that I am way too bored by the paper I'm writing for my Intro
to Management class. Enron-Schmenron.
I'm Joanne, 27, with Spastic Quadriplegia C.P. All 4 limbs, both sides.
Midly spastic, I walk with an extreme noticeable "limp", but usually without
anything to aid me, as crutches get in my way (can't carry stuff, go up and
down stairs, etc) and wheelchairs are cumbersome. I can drive with
hand-controls, but don't because I'm absolutely petrified I might kill
someone some day. I work full-time for a leading company in the medical
industry as a Contract Administrator, and am also going back to school full
time for my Business Degree. (Already have one degree in Psychology. IMHO
it's absolute crap).
I too have noticed a marked decrease in my abilities, however, I attribute
it more too my moderate weight gain than anything else. I have been trying
to diet for at least two years, however, I like food. A. lot, and I don't
like to deprive myself of anything I like :) I'm working on it though.
I can't pass for non-disabled, but can pretty much get around like an AB for
the most part... My job is awesome, and so is school... I do need to get out
and get my own apartment, but saving money comes first.
Well, that's enough from me
Joanne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carla MacInnis" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:18 PM
Subject: Re: Introduction
> Hi Brent,
>
> Welcome to the group.
>
> The over 40 crowd hanging about here can no doubt teach you a lot :) Did
> you have any sort of therapy as a child? How was your school life, etc.
You
> must reveal all :)
>
> The medical community seems not to really know what to do with us so by
> trial and error we often find it necessary to make our own way. Some of us
> tend to feel more comfortable going with the traditional "doctor drug"
> regimen of management when it comes to coping with age-related symptoms.
> I've opted for the alternative approaches - vitamins and herbs,
> aromatherapy, massage therapy, and even pet therapy. You'll meet Mr. Jake
> later - he's resting up for his grooming session tomorrow :)
>
> The aches and pains associated with aging with cerebral palsy are
> certainly irksome, but with planning (modifying routines, etc), proper
> nutrition, lots of rest, many of us do very well (Bobby, get your head out
> of that damned refrigerator!)
>
> Accepting that we are no longer 18 or even 28 and may not be able to
> function as we did then will do much to improve our lot - learning that we
> may need to rest more frequently is necessary.
>
> At almost 48, I'm still able to manage my housework, viewing it as a
form
> of exercise. I'm also great advocate of proper nutrition, mindful of the
> fact that we are what we eat. Speaking of food, do you have any good
> recipes? I have a great one for chicken manicotti, peoples! :)
>
> Again, welcome to the group, Brent. We look forward to much more from
you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Carla
> http://www.brunnet.net/terrier
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brent Edwards <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 1:39 PM
> Subject: Introduction
>
>
> > Hello, my name is Brent Edwards.
> >
> > I've been lurking here for about three weeks now, trying to get a feel
for
> > the nature and "tone" of this list. I still have some questions about
> that,
> > but I felt I should introduce myself before posing them.
> >
> > (Actually, I posted a somewhat snarky reply a few days ago to the person
> who
> > sent two unreadably html-formatted messages. Sorry if that was a
violation
> > of this list's "culture", but html-tagged e-mail is a major pet peeve of
> > mine.)
> >
> > I'm 41 years old, and have right-side hemiplegic cp. It is - from
> everything
> > I've been able to determine via net research - an extremely mild case. I
> > have sharply degraded fine motor control of my right hand. I am unable
to
> > rotate my right wrist past about 85 degrees. I have slightly degraded
fine
> > motor control of my right foot, yielding a very slight limp. I have some
> > extremely minor spasticity of my right hand, usually manifesting itself
> only
> > when I'm tired or stressed.
> >
> > And that is just about it, at least as of right now. In other words, I
can
> > "pass" as able-bodied in many circumstances.
> >
> > Because of this, I have resisted self-identifying as "disabled" at all.
I
> > felt for many years that I had no right to the label. My cp has never
> > stopped me from doing anything I really wanted to do (except perhaps
play
> > the piano in real time, but that is trivial at best). I have no problems
> > getting around. ADA non-compliant facilities present no barrier to me. I
> was
> > simply too "lucky" to have anything to complain about. (Something my
> mother
> > used to tell me constantly.)
> >
> > I'm married, have kids, a good job, house in the 'burbs, the whole bit.
> And
> > yet...
> >
> > And yet, I don't know. I've started noticing over the past half-decade
or
> so
> > slight creeping increases in the degradation of my motor skills. I
wonder
> > how the damage to my left cerebellum is going to affect my
cardiovascular
> > system as I age further. How will my condition affect my lifespan?
*Will*
> it
> > affect my lifespan? Blah blah blah.
> >
> > The answers that I've gotten from the few doctors I've seen can pretty
> much
> > be summed up as "No one knows."
> >
> > So lately I've started to seek out other adults with mild-to-moderate
cp,
> as
> > it seems we are going to have to figure out these things for ourselves.
> This
> > search has brought me into contact - for really the first time in my
> life -
> > with the disabled community and disabled culture.
> >
> > So my question to you all is simple, really. Do I belong here? Someone
> > commented a few days ago that this list is populated mostly with
disabled
> > adults, but I've seen several parents of disabled kids posting. Is there
> > anyone else here in similar circumstances to my own?
> >
> > I welcome any and all comments.
> >
> > Brent Edwards
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