Cerebral Palsy - making it all work

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). Cerebral Palsy is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child's birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child's life.

The brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems, and learning disabilities.

There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can help a child who is living with the condition.

About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common congenital (existing before birth or at birth) disorders of childhood. About 500,000 children and adults of all ages in the United States have the condition.

The three types of Cerebral Palsy are:

1. spastic cerebral palsy — causes stiffness and movement difficulties
2. athetoid cerebral palsy — leads to involuntary and uncontrolled movements
3. ataxic cerebral palsy — causes a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception

Cerebral palsy affects muscle control and coordination, so even simple movements — like standing still — are difficult. Other vital functions that also involve motor skills and muscles — such as breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating, and learning — may also be affected when a child has Cerebral Palsy.  Cerebral Palsy does not get worse over time, but it can appear to get worse as the effect of muscles that do not grow with the bones cause various physical deformations.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

The exact causes of most cases of Cerebral Palsy are unknown, but many are the result of problems during pregnancy in which the brain is either damaged or doesn't develop normally. This can be due to infections, maternal health problems, a genetic disorder, or something else that interferes with normal brain development. Problems during labor and delivery can cause Cerebral Palsy in some cases. but this is the exception.

Premature babies — particularly those who weigh less than 3.3 pounds (1,510 grams) — have a higher risk of Cerebral Palsy than babies that are carried full-term, as are other low birth weight babies and multiple births, such as twins and triplets.

Brain damage in infancy or early childhood can also lead to Cerebral Palsy.  A baby or toddler might suffer this damage because of lead poisoning, bacterial meningitis, malnutrition, being shaken as an infant (shaken baby syndrome), or being in a car accident while not properly restrained.

I have worked from home for 10 years to meet the needs of my son who has Cerebral Palsy due to contracting meningitis at 3 weeks of age.  I did not want to work from home - I had to learn to work from home.  Its a job, and anyone who says it "easy" and works instantly while you sleep.... is totally full of garbage.  If you really want to learn, contact me anytime.

Until next time,

Carrie Smith - Mother to son with Cerebral Palsy - and lots of hands on experience!