March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Did you know March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month? You may have seen some of our friends' posts about CP. Let me tell you a little bit more. Meet my daughter PM.

PM's birth was completely normal. I only had a 2 1/2 hour labor and no drugs of any kind. She came out perfectly and there was no indication that she should have any problems. We didn't notice the little signs.....
She was a lefty as soon as she started reaching for objects, she rarely used her right hand for anything. We didn't understand what that meant. It wasn't until she was closer to one year of age that we began to question our pediatrician about it. Here is what we finally found out.

PM has Right Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy due to a stroke shortly before or after her birth. Here's what the Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association says:

HEMIPLEGIA is a type of CEREBRAL PALSY that results from damage to the parts of the brain that control muscle movements. The term HEMIPLEGIA means that the paralysis is on one side of the body. In children with hemiplegia, the paralysis in the body occurs on the side opposite the affected part of the brain. For example, if the left side of the child's brain is injured, then the paralysis will be on the right side of the child's body.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEMIPLEGIA IN A CHILD?

The symptoms of SPASTIC HEMIPLEGIC CEREBRAL PALSY may differ from child to child and over time. Symptoms may include:

• difficulty with fine motor tasks like writing or using scissors


• difficulty with walking and balance


• stiffness and weakness in muscles on one side of the body


• seizures


• delay in reaching expected developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or smiling
  
• about one fourth of children with spastic hemiplegia may have an IQ below 70

What happens next? Throughout the week I will continue her story.

Please also visit our friends:

Cole at Caring For Cole (and here)(and Cole's mommy the RaMbLeR)

Logan at Life of Logan

Brendon at Brendon's Smile

Jack at Our Incredible Journey

Max at To The Max

And to our other friends I may have missed, please e-mail me and I'll add your name to our list!!!

PM on her first birthday!