Dear Cerebral Palsy: We Are a Partnership

Dear Cerebral Palsy,

You’re like a friend to me. You’re annoying and very frustrating at times, but friends are always there for each other. You’re with me every single wonky step of the way.

You challenge me every single day, but what’s a life without a challenge? You’ve opened doors and helped me do things I would never have been able to do without you.

You may make my walking weird and mean I can’t run marathons or go out with my other friends. Guess what? You’re forgiven! I love the weirdness of you and me. Different from every other fish in the sea. Able to dance in big theatres. We competed nationally in wheelchair athletics and swimming.

You are not just my disability, you’re why I can meet amazing people like you and me. Look at life positively. Think possible, not impossible. We are a partnership. You make me who I am. The dancer I will be. Nobody could ever understand the magic of you and me.

I hate you so much and I love you just the same. Even though you are a pain, we promised to stick together. Let’s be honest, we don’t really have a choice. If there was a cure for you, I wouldn’t take it in a million years. Why would I want to kill my best friend?

Thank you for being there.