Living with Cerebral Palsy and Fighting the Incurable - My Story"

Cerebral Palsy like every disability has its challenges.  The stiff muscles during the day, the tremors which make it almost a chore to brush your teeth, and shaving well... lets not even go there.  This is a journey that has had its struggles, its cases of depression, and yes, even its shed of tears.

Some of what i have experienced has been some of my worst experiences of my life.  However, if it were not for these experiences I would not have memories in which I will never forget.  My name is Matthew Powell and I have Cerebral Palsy.

While I go about my day-to-day activities I will often hear the question, "Why do you limp?"  This is not a question that drives me away, nor is it a question that insults me.  In fact, I embrace these questions because it brings about awareness for this incurable condition.  I would tell the person that I have Cerebral Palsy, which is a disability that is caused by not gaining enough oxygen to your brain.  It can effect a person physically, mentally, or you can have a combination of both symptoms.

immediately, a look of concern and bewilderment goes across the person's  face.  They will often times say I'm sorry to hear that.  I will often respond with a quick smile an say to them that "every day you spend feeling sorry for yourself is a day wasted."  This is not to say that I have never had cases of depression.  In fact, it's quite the contrary.  But first lets go back to the beginning.

I was born on December 20, 1990 three months before my due date.  I only weighed 2lbs and I was hooked up to all different kinds of monitors and respirators.  While most parents experience the joy of holding the miracle they have just created in their arms, my parents had to hold their breath in a waiting room where the doctors said I wouldn't even make it through the night.

69 days later I was finally able to spend a night in my own home.  However, I was still experiencing symptoms in which a normal healthy baby doesn't exhibit.  I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy in 1992.  My mother devastated took me to countless doctors and specialists who told her I would never read, write, or go to regular school.

My mom told me that not only will I complete these tasks; I will excel at them.  To this day I can still see the tears in her eyes when she tells me this story, which shows me the ultimate love a parent, can have for their child.  I have a countless number of people who make me the person who I am today.  If I mentioned all of them this story would be infinite.  These people are people whom I consider my guardian angels.

After 2 surgeries and countless therapy to keep my muscles loose, her I am.  For awhile after I graduated high school, I was in a lot of pain and I felt like this disability was bringing me down.  But then I remembered what my best friend Justin Hunter once told me, something that will last me a lifetime.  "People will only hold you as high as you hold yourself."

In May of 2009 I created a group on facebook called "Living with Cerebral Palsy and Fighting the Incurable."  This was a group created for anyone who has CP, knows someone with CP, or supports the fight for a cure.  It is a group that spreads and believes in optimism.

Our optimism comes from each other.  This group and the stories I hear from people all over the world are what keep me going.  I have made countless friends who help me deal with these everyday challenges.  Whether it is Karl Cremen, who shared the story about his son Oscar calling him daddy for the first time using technology, which helps him communicate with others.

Or Tom Samson from Scranton PA who has joined the group to help his best friend deal with CP, and lets not forget John Phistner, from Dunkirk Illinois who has helped me organize this group in hope to someday find a cure for his daughter.  We are 730 members strong, and still growing.

We each travel our own journey but together we know that nothing is impossible!  This is my journey in which I have traveled for 19 years.  It is one journey among thousands.  But with your help, if we keep spreading awareness combined with optimism, I along with many others can reach my destination before another 19 years pass.