New Blog: Why I Want to Walk

Cerebral Palsy is a disease that affects brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. This disease can be caused during infancy by any bleeding in the brain, brain infections, head injury, infections in the mother during pregnancy or severe jaundice. The affects of Cerebral Palsy can range from seizures, speech problems, muscle tightness, pain and abnormal gait.

I am an individual who was born with Cerebral Palsy, and as a result am currently bound to a wheelchair; although, that is soon to change. With the help of assistive technology that is becoming available to me, I will push myself until I am able to walk again.

I want to walk because it is a good workout for me. It will help my legs become stronger and I will be able to better assist those who help me with my daily care. It will also help me feel good about myself mentally because I will be proud of myself. I would also feel better physically because I could stretch my legs which sometimes become cramped after sitting for a long period of time.

It would also improve my mental health. I would walk tall, and be proud of myself. Being in a wheelchair, independence is hard to come by. While I appreciate all of the individuals who help me with tasks and daily living, I would appreciate it more to complete them myself. I imagine, with the aid of assistive technology, like a standing walker that I can be strapped into, and possibly some assistance in case of a fall, my lifelong dream of walking again will come true, even if I need help to make it happen.

I went for a stroll for the first time in many years a few weeks ago at work, with a borrowed walker and assistance from a co-worker. Those few steps felt amazing after a long time of not walking, since my long lost walker has not been recovered. Without it I cannot walk at home or at work.

I have begun the process of trying to acquire assistive walking tools of my own to help make this possible. I think this will help me become a stronger person and live a better, healthier lifestyle.