Cerebral Palsy is usually defined as ‘a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture. It hinders the body’s ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way. It also can affect other body functions that involve motor skills and muscles, like breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating, and talking’. It often is caused by brain damage that happens before or during a baby’s birth, or during the first 3-to-5 years of a child’s life. Moving away from the medical terminologies, Cerebral Palsy is when the child has difficulty walking or performing coordinated bodily movements.
Mrs ‘A’ initially thought that her son is just being mischievous by not using his body in the ‘normal manner’. Right from when he was a few months old, she understood that something is not right and medical intervention is needed. She left her town as there was limited medical attention that could be given to this condition and moved to a bigger city so that she could get proper healthcare. Living away from her husband and her in-laws in a new city did not deter her determination to help her child walk unaided. She recalled that initially, it was very difficult to set up a new house as well as look after her son who is almost completely dependent on her. However, after multiple physiotherapies, play therapies and working endlessly at home, she saw her son finally walk a few steps unaided at the age of 6. This was the happiest moment of her life.
Mrs ‘A’ has been coming to Genius Lane Development Centre for approximately 6 months now and has started noticing some positive changes in her son. She cheerfully mentioned that he is now able to eat his food on his own, is able to wear his own clothes and sometimes, also dances to Bollywood songs!
Noticing these small changes and celebrating these growths is what has made this mother-son bond so special.