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My daughter Keisha was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was 22 months old, in July 2000. If your child has been newly diagnosed this is the ideal place to start finding information. I have created this website to try and provide a 'one-stop shop' on Cerebral Palsy, whether by providing the information directly myself or via links to other useful sites that deal with CP or disability generally. A good place to start is with 'Welcome to Holland' which is a beautiful analogy. I had to find out everything I know about Cerebral Palsy from a large number of sources as I was not given much information from the hospital after the diagnosis. I felt bewildered and alone. I hope this site eases some of that for you and that you find it helpful. The links at the top of the page and within the site will take you to Keisha's story and various sources of help, support, information and advice. If you are a friend or relative of a parent or carer you will find out ways in which you can help them that may not immediately spring to mind. The 'aids and therapies' link will give you access to photographs of equipment you may need and of treatments/procedures, for example, surgery that your child might go through and the physiotherapy session below (pages with photographs may take a while to load depending on the speed of your modem).
Keisha's Physio: a balancing exercise The sources of help section contains links to organisations that offer assistance, be it financial or practical and the link wall has links to sites that are useful/fun for anyone! If you have any information you think should be included or if you'd like to add your story to the 'Our Stories' page (currently offline due to construction, please contact me. There are two discussion groups this site links to, one for parents and carers which I manage and the other which is for CP kids run by CP kids. I felt it useful to include this as parents often contact me for information on how to deal with the situations their children encounter. Personally I believe that the children themselves are ideal as they have the experience that we as parents simply cannot have. (No-one can obtain personal e-mail addresses directly from them - they are mailed through the MSN forum and directed to members), but as with anything, I'd advise you to check it out first so that you feel comfortable with it and also to help your child with their member settings. APPEAL Someone I have been in contact with recently has given me details of the Hydrosense Appeal that is taking place during 2006/7 to raise funds 'to install new, purpose designed facilities at Barrs Court School which is Herefordshire’s only dedicated secondary phase school for children who have severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties.' They are hoping to raise £750,000. For further details regarding this appeal or to make a donation, please visit http://www.barrscourtappeal.co.uk.
Update: 01.01.06 Happy New Year to all my visitors. I haven't updated the site for a while, so please accept my apologies. Have been very busy!
Keisha is doing well. She hasn't needed any surgery since her operation in 2002. She can walk unaided, but generally gets around in her wheelchair or walking frame. The wheelchair is a recent addition to all the other equipment she has and for the moment it's just one that gets pushed as opposed to the type they push themselves. She is 7 now and goes to mainstream school. She has a statement of Special Educational Needs and this has enabled her to have a support worker to assist her with her exercises in school and any 1 to 1 help she may need. As soon as I have more time, I'll go into the statementing process in more depth and I'll update the photos.
Update 04.01.03:Keisha had a Percutaneous Lengthening to the Achilles and Botox on 4th December 2002. The Botox released the tight muscles in her hamstrings. She stood up for the first time two weeks after the operation aged 4½. It was a very exciting time. Click here to see photos of the procedure up to anesthesia and read about our experience. Bookmark this site to add it to your Favourites. (I also have the domain names www.cp-help.com and www.cp-help.co.uk - these direct you straight to this site). I will try and update this site as often as possible and add updates to the Site News page. Thank you for visiting! If you have time, please visit my other site www.cards4u.zoomshare.com where you can view a small selection of the handmade cards I produce. Nicolette
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