At 06:08 PM 5/24/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I have to agree with Cindy, I live by myself with a nurse coming in a hour a
>day to shower, to dress and to sit out a sandwich for lunch.  Other than
>that, I'm totally independent now with everything else even cleaning which I
>love to do right away as the mess was made.  I know when I began living
>alone in January, it was hard and took a lot of creative thinking and
>figuring but to me it was fun to do and see the progress I was making on
>myself.  An other point I would like to make, is you have to want to help
>yourself and being independent instead of having somebody else want that for
>you because you wouldn't be as successful if you were doing it just to
>please somebody.  One other important point is to remember parents and other
>family members and even attendants don't live forever, as a friend who was
>also an attendant pointed out to me once.  I know it's work again but I feel
>better knowing that I can do most things by myself now and plus my parents
>are 50 and I would love to see them go to Hawaii or wherever to enjoy
>themselves without having to worry about me or pawming me on to my brother
>to be cared for.


What is your severity of your CP?  In my case, I can't feed myself, dress,
use the restroom, etc.  I have no motor skills with my limbs other than my
feet.  Once I'm in my electric wheelchair, I can manage throughout the
day.  I have a friend that helps me in the restroom and with lunch while
I'm at school.  I have Severe athetoid Cerebral Palsy.  Other than my
personal needs, I can pretty much handle the daily routines.  Open doors,
lock my front door, get in and out of elevators, etc.  A nurse is coming
over next week to see what kind of help I need when I move out.

  I would like to know what to expect when I make my leap.  I'm looking
forward to it.

Tim