Anee,

        This was a message we all need to read. It really yields insight
into how you came to accept yourself as you were. Thank You!



>Hi-
>
>You know I just wish people would stop looking at disability as something to
>fix...something that needs improving.
>
>And I am not trying to critize parents.  I am just trying to offer some
>guidence based on my life experience thus far as a person with CP.  Trying to
>make you think about things that you may not have thought of...that's all.
>Offering a diffrent perspective.
>
>I mean I am fine as I am, as long as I accept myself for who I am.  So who
>cares if I use a wheelchair. (I don't)  Who cares if I walk funny or ruin my
>shoes as one person said...who cares if I can't walk or stand at all. (I
>don't)
>
>The thing that counts is that I AM a productive member of socitey.  (and
>that's what relly counts in the end)  I can work at a job.  I have or can get
>an education.  I can and do go to college.  And walking or standing dosn't
>make (in the big pictiure) a whole lot of impact on that.  (it inpacts on how
>you do it but it dosn't flat out prevent you from doing it).  And I know not
>everyone with CP can go to college because some have sever learning
>dificulities or developmental delays but that is not the majority.
>
>I know a high school teacher who has sever athetoid cp.  He can not stand,
>walk, write, type, or feed himself without assistence.  He has sever speech
>problems.  But he has a PhD in physics, has published 2 books...one in
>english and one in korean...and is now teaching high school physics.  The
>possibilities are endless.
>
>I don't know many jobs were all you do is standing so I have never understood
>what the big deal with being able to walk is.  (Just because eveyone elce
>walks around on 2 legs?...I don't get it)...actually in about 6 grade I
>became very cofterble with having cerebral palsy...to me it's not a big deal
>any more...I am actualy in a way thankfull for my disabilty because I belive
>that it has offered my grater educationl oppertunities...being more awear of
>people...etc.  Even in jobs that you do standing up you still have to be able
>to use your arms and hands.  To me it is much more important to be able to
>use your upper body.  And if you can walk that's fine to.  But I think
>sometimes to much attention is paied to the lower body becasue that's were
>people notice diffrences right off.
>
>
>I don;t know if this messege has a point or not.  I just wanted to share
>these thoughts with all of you out there.
>
>Anee
>Webmaster,  <A
>HREF="http://yahoo.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/4441/CPIC.html">CPIC</A>
>
>In a message dated 9/16/1999 12:46:40 AM Central Daylight Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
><< Hi,
>
> I have memories going back to at least the age of 3 1/2 or 4 if not earlier.
> I remember my first surgery at 4 1/2 very well. I had one of the same nurses
> at the same hospital when I was 8. We both recognized each other and stuff.
> My parents didn't talk to me about my second surgery. I found out the day
> before when I was having surgery. My mother's way of dealing with it was: "If
> you going to cry about it, we're not going to discuss it. End of subject."
> All I knew was that I would have casts below my knees, and that my feet would
> be straight afterwards and that I would no longer make holes in my shoes. I
> also knew that I would be in the casts for six weeks.  It was six weeks of
> pain and he**!! I also relied on my memory of what would happen in the
> hospital and it was all the same... unfortunately. A week of He** that I
> could have lived without!
>
> Since my doctor "screwed up", I wouldn't let him touch me again with a knife.
> I still ruined my shoes and got the blame for it. I got the blame for my foot
> turning out. I got the blame for not picking up my feet after this surgery
> that "was supposed to make me walk more normal and straight."
>
> Enuf said,
>
> Dina >>