By Having CP means there are things I can’t do, but the people I love have always preferred me to focus on what I can do. I decided to write a blog post detailing many of the things I can do because there’s a lot of misinformation out there. I want to clear up what I can for y’all. I need to stress this is what I can do. It may not be the case for others with CP, or they may can do more than me. This is in no way a complete list.
What I can do:
- Stand with the help of a grab bar, somebody’s hands, or a walker
- Step also with the help of a grab bar, somebody’s hands, or a walker
- dance with the same help as the first two and in my chair(s) as well
- transfer out of and into my chair with the same help as the first three
- feed myself
- quench my thirst
- shower using a shower bench and hand held shower
- blow dry my hair
- brush my hair
- floss and brush my teeth
- put on makeup
- put on perfume
- wash my face
- paint my nails
- go shopping
- type
- write
- text
- make and receive calls on my cell
- read
- operate a computer and tablet very well
- clean my living space
- talk
- sing
- drive my chair(s)
- pay my bills/monitor my account/balance my bank account
- change CDs/DVDs
- play my iPod
- learn
- play basketball
- use the restroom without needing to use a catheter
- kiss
- hug
- sleep in a regular bed
- swim
- exercise: I have a DVD of all sitting exercises I do, but I rarely use the DVD anymore ’cause I know it by heart. I make the routine more difficult for myself and my goal every time is to kick my own butt and muscles into tiredness. The more tired my muscles are, on a regular basis, the fewer tone spikes I have to deal with.
- play with my dog Coco
- play with and look out for my, almost 9 year old, neighbor who is my buddy and has been since she was born. Ya know when we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic, that is.
- go to movies and concerts
- hang out with everybody I love
- buy the things I need and want with my own money. I refuse to be a burden on my parents
This is all I can think of at the moment. The point of this blog post is to show y’all my life is pretty typical. I might have to do stuff a little differently than everybody else, but it gets done. To my chosen brother Ben who follows this blog: I would like you to notice I didn’t use the word normal in this post except in this note to you. Aren’t you proud? 😉 For the rest who don’t understand: this is a running inside joke between Ben and I since the day his wife made me change my mindset. Now that it’s much easier not to say normal in reference to myself: it’s turned into a joke. Love you, brother.
