I wear braces on my legs. They are called ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) for short. I’ve worn them most of my life. Here’s the process by which they are made: the person making them draws on my feet and legs with a skin safe colored pencil. Then he or she puts long socks on me
Tag: Cerebral Palsy
I was going to blog about something from my ever-growing list of ideas on my computer, then last night happened. This is my most raw, honest, blog to date. As this journey continues: I’m sure I’ll feel led to change my plan. This blog, my journey, my life is in God’s hands, always. It usually
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) is my favorite US President. People, when I tell them, assume that I’m a democrat, sometimes. My love of FDR has nothing to do with politics, or my other job as a political scientist, at all. Shortly after the conversation with Granny about my condition my parents took me to Warm
Most of this blog post I wrote in early 2010. What I wrote is below: As I sit here listening to RENT, I’m inspired to share this story with everybody. I know somebody needs it today. I hope it gives somebody the strength they need to be themselves because as I look around the outside
When I was born I had pneumonia in both lungs. My lungs were very much fine, which isn’t always the case for people who have CP, for a long time. I say were because three years ago, I got pneumonia for the second time in my life. I’m not going to lie, it was very
If you have been following this blog, or know me in my life outside of blogging, you know I adore my granddaddy. I call him granddaddy, but the world called him Kirk because his first name was too hard to pronounce. I call him Kirk, sometimes, too. Kirk & my dad are what the Atlanta
I loved visiting Granny. Her house represented: constant noise, good food, laughter, stories, and lots of music. The kitchen was the place everybody gathered more often than not. I was about four when I realized I was different from others my age. It was scary, and I didn’t know how to process my discovery. Granny
I get the question if you’re an only child, how do you have siblings a lot. It’s a fair question. I have a relaxed definition of family, by society’s standards; my definition is Biblical. My favorite verse is Proverbs 17:17. It says: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a
I’ve heard people, in my life, say words do not matter. To them, and all of you reading this, I say let me explain why words matter in my life. It all started April of 9th grade. Right after spring break, my classmates and I were outside, on the track, in 5th period PE. Yes,
As an academic and a type A personality, correct terminology matter to me greatly. I have trouble not correcting people when they use the wrong term to refer to something. I am also my mama’s daughter and words and terminology matter to her as well. In fact, she still corrects me when I pronounce a