Cerebral Palsy
I am very blessed to be here and tell you a little bit about my journey. My name is Lucy Ramirez. I am thirty years old and I was born with Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy has four main types: Spastic Cerebral Palsy (which is the most common), Spastic Diplegia / Diparesis, Spastic Quadriplegia / Quadriparesis, Spastic Hemiplegia / Hemiparesis. The type of Cerebral Palsy that I was diagnosed with at birth is called Spastic diplegia. Spastic diplegia affects the arms and legs making the joints stiff and contract which causes spasms. In most cases of Spastic diplegia, the legs are the most affected more so than the arms.
My Journey Of Life
During labor, my body did not produce enough oxygen to go to my brain which caused me to have Cerebral Palsy. Being a premature baby and my low weight were both factors in this diagnosis. I weighed one pound six ounces and had to be in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for several months until my parents were able to take me home. It was not an easy process having a newborn at the hospital while having a toddler back at home. Since birth, I have encountered many obstacles. The doctors only thought I had seventy- two hours to live; they advised my parents to be prepared for the worst. Despite their prognosis, my parents put their faith and my life in the hands of the Lord because he had the last say. Thirty years later I am still here standing. At the age of five, they told my parents that I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life but once again I proved them wrong. With the help of physical and occupational therapy over the years I was able to become more independent. As the years went by I started to become fully independent in many aspects of my life. I might need assistance to do certain things but not in the same ways as before. The process was not easy but I was determined to make it happen. I believed in myself because I knew I had the courage and the strength to do so. Although the obstacles that I encountered were not easy I would not trade any of those moments for anything they have shaped me to be the person I am today. They have made me resilient and strong. I know that I have the power to overcome anything.
My Team
Thanks to my amazing family, friends, and medical staff who are my biggest supporters and encouraged me to never give up and that anything in life is possible regardless of your circumstances.
My Aspiration
My mission is to spread awareness about Cerebral Palsy and to teach others that having a disability is not an obstacle for us. We may complete tasks differently but we get them done too, just given a chance to demonstrate what we are capable of doing. This is my story. I hope to encourage others to go out of their way and inspire someone with their story! If they tell you it is impossible, it is impossible for THEM, not YOU! Xoxo Lucy 💕
Comments