Question
Hello.

I am writing a short story at the moment but I need some more information. Do you mind helping me with it?

The main plot of the story is based around a person with Cerebal Palsy. Everyone talks to her and reads to her but they believe that it is pointless because she doesn't understand and even if she could understand it she couldn't say anything about it or write it down or do anything with the infomation. But she actually can understand and is inspired with one of the things read to her to try to walk because on one of her visits to a doctor he said that one day she might walk.

Do you think it is realistic that she could walk again?

Would it be more realistic if she gained the ability to talk or write instead of walking?

Is there an age where it is possible she might walk again but if she can't walk by that age (say adulthood or once she has stopped growing) then she will never walk?

Is there any other information which at this stage you think should be in the story or considered before I start the story.

Thank you,
Talia

Answer
Hiya! I don't mind answering your questions at all. I've actaully been published in a book, although, my disability wasn't specifically said to be CP. *grin*

Anyway, um, I walked at 6 years old, with crutches. It's possible she could walk with devices... crutches, braces, a implanted intrathecal drug pump, at any age.

Now, you say walk again. Has she walked before? Usually, a person as they get older, get worse when they have CP, so if they walk at a young age, they will probably lose the ability to walk when they get older. In my case, I can't walk without assistance (and I used to), so I use my service dog, crutches and braces.

Now, yes, it would probably be more realistic to talk, or write (or talk understandably), as I lose the ability to talk depending on my spasticity level. If her spasticity is reduced, she could probably talk with little or no trouble.

Tell me what you're trying to do with this story. You can contact me via email at [email protected]. :)

Dana