When deciding what I would include in this blog post, I searched for what I said last year on this day. I recognised the fact that the year was harder than most and wished everyone a happy CP day.
I confess that by today I wished things would be better and a little easier for people with CP and everyone in general. I guess they are a tiny bit, with vaccines being rolled out in the US. As I have family there I was concerned about the vaccination programs and still am.
As a person with CP and hydrocephalus, I am high risk not just for getting Covid, but of blood clots and brain bleeds (since they were one of the reasons I have CP and hydrocephalus) but I am not in the US and have yet to wait for my vaccine.
The wait so far is hard and frustrating, but I feel relief and happiness every time someone is vaccinated. This means we are one step closer to defeating this virus.
Up to now, I have been dealing with voluntary self-isolation in the best way I know how, with support from my husband and with a little help from my Friends (yes, that show is still one of my favourites).
My CP has been playing with me lately and although I have my supported exercise regime with which my husband helps so I can be perfectly stretched out (although the stiffness of my muscles means I am often in pain whether I am or am not stretched because of my posture) I admit the stretches make me feel more relaxed. That was further helped by a heat lamp which is so relaxing. I recommend this for people with tight muscles due to CP and any other cause.
Back spasms and a familiar feeling of large “balls or knots” of muscle in my legs or shoulder blades have proven especially hard to reduce and when they are stiffer than usual it’s painful to be touched so massage is something I don’t like, unless people are very gentle.
We have had some very relaxing days as well as some very busy ones. My books are always something that are relaxing and recently I found the book Patience by Victoria Cooke on NetGalley. As a “read now,” I could download it straight away without permission from the publisher and started it last night. It is about Patience who has Rett Syndrome and her family. I have always been curious about medical conditions other than mine and have seen some Rett Syndrome videos on YouTube. I have not been able to find books about, or by, people with CP on there.
In wanting to help raise some awareness for disabilities and help with the sale of clothing that I like and have, I emailed 3E Love’s Wheelchair Heart wondering when the vintage style t-shirt would be on sale, and asking for it to be (I would not mind another one if the stock does not run out). I have it in Sunset Orange.
Low and behold, it was uploaded to the site a few days later. If you love vintage style like me, you will love this.
Speaking of style, I am wearing green eyeshadow today. Green is not my favourite colour usually but if I find an unusual shade I will buy it. It is the colour all CP warriors identify with for awareness. The product I am wearing is the Water Shadow in Slate Green by Kiko, which is a beautiful dark sea green. Luckily I have 2 of these so enough for many more CP days yet!
However you are spending today, I hope you find a way to honour the day.
Just Katherine 