I want to share my first English essay with you from 2015:
Shon'tavia Goins
Mr. Prowell
English 99
August 11, 2015
Living with Cerebral Palsy
I was born on May 14, 1994 and I weighed 1lb and 9oz. I was born with Cerebral Palsy which is a medical condition and a common birth defect. The doctors had to send me to Gainesville Florida in a helicopter because I was premature. I stayed at Shand's Hospital for 6 weeks and I went back to South Georgia Medical Center until July 13, 1994.
When I was six months old, up until I turned 1, my mom and dad realized that I didn't crawl, sit up on my own, take my first step, and didn't say my first word. My parents took me to the doctor. The doctor told my parents that I have Cerebral Palsy. My mom told me that I have Cerebral Palsy.
I didn't understand what Cerebral Palsy was until I turned 21. I have spasticities, spasms, and other involuntary movements (my feet shakes, I hit stuff not knowing it's going to happen, and I jerk a lot). I don't know what type of Cerebral Palsy I have. I had a lot of surgeries growing up. My first surgery was on my hips at the age of two in Augusta Georgia. My last surgery was a Baclofen Pump which is better than getting shots every three to four months.
I used to have speech therapy because my speech was delayed. Sometimes I have trouble saying the words or sentences that I want to say. When that happens, I have to think about what I want to say. I have Occupational therapy that helps my arms and muscles get looser every week after school. I also had Physical therapy which helps my legs get looser. I know what it is like living with Cerebral Palsy.
I am not letting Cerebral Palsy stop me from doing anything I want to do in my life. Cerebral Palsy is not stopping me from getting my degree. Living with Cerebral Palsy is really tough. I have my family who supports and love me for who I am. I love my life even though I was born with Cerebral Palsy. I am not taking my life for granted. I am very grateful for the support that my family and friends give me every single day, all day and all night. This is my life with Cerebral Palsy and I am very happy.
I'm glad that Mr. Prowell let me write an essay about CP.
YOU ARE READING
Coping with Cerebral Palsy (My Story)
Non-FictionCerebral Palsy is a medical condition and a common birth defect. It is caused by damage to the brain and can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or after birth up to about age three. CP is not an infectious disease and is not contagious. Most cases...
