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Your World

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy you are likely experiencing a range of overwhelming emotions. It's important to talk with your loved ones and reach out to support groups (online and off), especially during the early stages of your journey. For advice on dealing with the emotions you may be going through, visit the 4MyChild website:

Cerebral Palsy and Your Emotions as a Parent

If you're having problems figuring out what exactly to say to your family and friends after your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, get some guidance here on telling grandparents and your child's siblings, from The Spastic Centre, in Australia:

• Helping Your Family Adjust - Grandparents
• Helping Your Family Adjust - Brothers & Sisters

Cerebral Palsy Myths

• "My child has no future."
• "I cannot care for a child with cerebral palsy."
• "Cerebral palsy is always caused by a lack of oxygen at birth."

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

Dozens of personal stories of people just like you who are coping with CP in this blog network, Living with Cerebral Palsy:

• Living Life to the Full Around the World

If you're the parent of a child with CP, check out this advice from 4MyChild:

• Coping with Cerebral Palsy

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Having a child with cerebral palsy carries with it a wide range of emotions, everything from fear and guilt to anger and depression. For many parents, dealing with the flood of emotions that comes with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy in a child can be an enormous challenge. It's important to continue living your life normally, participating in the same daily activities you always have as much as possible. Support groups are also important; if you can, connect with other parents or if you're a survivor yourself, talk to others with CP. Be sure to keep educating yourself on cerebral palsy and learning trhough books, sites, and stories by those who are dealing with this condition. This site has state-by-state info about support groups and resources for parents:

4MyChild: Strength in Numbers - Connect with People Who Really Understand

Books Survivors Recommend

• Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
• The Official Parent's Sourcebook on Cerebral Palsy: A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age
• Sara's Secret

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