Cerebral Palsy is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary among people. Often, symptoms include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles,  seizures, tremors and problems with thinking or reasoning. There may be problems with sensation, vision, hearing, swallowing, and speaking. Often babies with cerebral palsy do not roll over, sit, crawl, or walk as early as other children of their age.

There are so many children around the world suffering from cerebral palsy (CP) and several organisations are working hard to help these young souls through charity works, marathons and even fundraising just to see these young ambitious future leaders live a better life.

Unlike the past where children suffering from cerebral palsy were seen as outcasts in the society and were thrown into the forests and left for dead or their mothers chased away from the community, nowadays things have changed. Many have been able to learn about the condition and there are millions of children being taken care of by their parents. they are not discriminated against.

Well, another Kenyan parent, Suzy Njeri who has a daughter living with Cerebral Palsy has come out to share her story after her child was diagnosed with the condition at six-months old.

Here is her touching story;

"HOPE AMIDST ALL MELTDOWN ON CEREBRAL PALSY DIAGNOSIS!!

I will never forget the look the doctor gave me when he sat next to me in that hospital room seven years ago, to tell me my 6-months-old daughter had Cerebral Palsy and I shouldn't spend so much money on neurologist's appointment rather spend on therapy. His eyes looked straight at me, striking like a sword through my heart. All I wanted is hope that this gonna be over soon!!

Back then, not knowing better, I remember feeling despair, anxiety and mostly hopelessness. Hopelessness for what I imagined my daughter's life would be like. Hopelessness for what I imagined the diagnosis meant for me as a parent. Hopelessness for how different I thought my family would look at the one I had imagined. I had a moment of emotional meltdown!

I was changed in an instant and forever by that doctor’s look. I truly felt I would never laugh again! But now, looking back at that moment, I have replaced that anxiety, sorrow and fear with different emotions: hopeful ones.

Today, my daughter, Princess, has transformed me with hope.

Hope as I watch her reaching for her full potential, hope that she will be able to communicate her ideas and emotions in her own way. And furthermore, that she will continue to be a happy, outgoing and total love-giver. All images of our future together, as mother and daughter, are filled with images of joy.

Adding;

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself what I tell now to the new mothers I have visited and met;

'You will laugh again! You will cry again about other things. You will enjoy many moments with your child that have nothing to do with diagnoses, brain damage, toileting and doctors’ appointments. It won’t be easy, but it will be amazing. There will be days, many of them, in which you may totally forget your child has Cerebral Palsy. Your child will fit perfectly into your family. Do not be afraid. You have been blessed with a beautiful child.'"

Here are the photos of Suzy Njeri's daughter

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