Dear Cerebral Palsy: I'm Grateful to You

Dear Cerebral Palsy,

We haven’t always been friends, but I am grateful to you for many things. I spent most of my childhood in PT, OT, aquatic therapy etc. I hated it then, but now I am grateful I had the opportunity because it’s given me the ability to walk and the experience to help others. Once upon a time I felt so alone because of you, and I just used to pray no one would notice you. But again, this has given me the ability to use my experience to help others through my page and the #CPDreamTeam t-shirts, and in my community as well.

The struggles, have been many and I won’t lie and say things are easy even now, but because of you I am a stronger, kinder, wiser person. I still struggle on a daily basis with frustration, but do my best to remain positive and focus on my strengths rather than my weaknesses. Because of you I was picked on; again, this only makes me want to make a change in this world for others, because so many people don’t get it that it’s OK to be different. No, it has not been easy, but I have learned to accept you and amazingly the one thing I hoped no one would notice is what now helps me shine a light for the world to see. I believe God makes no mistakes, and I have CP for a reason. I believe everyone has a purpose and I think to help others through my CP is mine. I won’t lie, on pageant days I would love to effortlessly glide across the floor like the other girls, but it’s not happening and that’s OK.

In closing, there is nothing I would change about my life. Without you, I would not have found some of the most amazing people, and though they are not blood, they are my family. Through my weakness I found my strength, and I will focus not on what I can’t do, but on what I can. I choose to be happy and positive because life is beautiful and meant to be lived to the fullest. I hope my life helps someone else know that no matter what obstacles you face, you can still follow your dreams and reach for the stars!

Love,

Heaven

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