Does anyone else have children with developmental delays or Cerebral Palsy?

Just because a child has CP doesn't mean that they are doomed. My best friend has CP, and she went to college, got married and she has a daughter...who is comepletly healthy. Of course there are varying degrees of CP. My friend was in a wheel chair until she was in about 2nd -3rd grade. She walks with a profound limp, but she is able to because her parents worked with her and took her to therapy.

My daughter was diagnosed with Aicardi syndrome at 6 weeks. We were told she would die before she was 4 and would not walk or sit up. She walks. She is 23 years old. She can not speak but she claps her hands and smiles or frowns so we know what she is feeling. She doesn't have an education but she is a wonderful teacher! She has taught all of us to value the things we have and appreciate our skills. Some doctors tell you the absolute worst to test your strength and see if you ahve what it takes to be a good mother to a child who needs more help. You do. When neighbours are moaning about their teenagers being sexually active, or drinking, or taking drugs, or missing curfews, i just chuckle. My daughter is tucked into bed at 8 pm every night. She still cuddles like a baby and I always know where she is. No, I will never plan her wedding or see her with children, but she never sasses me back or gives me any grief with weird boyfriends. Once you get over your shock, get together with a support group of parents - you will need connections for special care and special babysitters. there are a lot of places and agenceis to help you and you will make wonderful, lifelong friends with some of these kindred spirits. Remember - Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with CP and was given no value when he was born but he is the world's most famous scientist!! Cerebral Palsy does not mean your child has no mind or no feeling or no future. It simply means that part of hus functions are not working and it is up to you to ensure that he is given every opportunity to grow and shine!! You will have such a joyful life. Instead of taking things for granted and waiting for your son to score the winning goal or graduate suma *** laude, you will be ecstatic when he can crawl by himself. Your heart will jump when he smiles. We waited for 3 years to get a perfect little girl and we ended up with the little girl who was perfect for us.

I do not have a child that has CP, but I do have a nephew with CP! When I found out what was wrong, I was a little shocked, but I thought he had Autism, it was misdiagnosed as autism, but now we found he has CP. Luckily, he is learning to walk with a walker, he is now 3 years old and just learning to walk. I love the little guy though, he is such an awesome little boy!!

Oh, I forgot to mention, they are not sure what caused his CP, but they are sure it happened at birth, he was vacuumed out of my sister, that is a cause they say, it is awful to think that this little boy may have been normal if he had been pushed out by my sister instead of suctioned out by the doctor, what a world!! Good luck to you, I hope that you are able to find the strength to not blame yourself and not be depressed, you can email me if you want to talk, I will listen!