Hi, our names are Chuck and Liz and we have a 9 year old son with mild cerebral
palsy; whom we adore. He also has asthma, hypotonia and has
had two surgeries to correct his strabismus
My pregnancy was a rocky one as I had 4 premature labors and then in my 7th month
I got the chicken pox. The Doctor said that I had them in the right month of my pregnancy,
that they would not hurt the baby and that he would be prone to the chicken pox for the
first year of his life.
Heath was born on June 9, 1989. It was not a long delivery; 6 1/2 hours with 1/2
hour of hard labor. Then, as he was coming through the birth canal, the cord was wrapped
around his neck. As they were getting it unwrapped he lost just enough oxygen to cause
problems. He weighed 7lbs 5oz, a good weight, but he had to be put in an incubator for
jaundice and was poked in the feet with needles so many times to check his blood levels
that his tiny feet looked like pin cushions. He also had trouble taking his bottles due to
his sucking reflex. After 4 long days he got to come home. We didn't realize he had c.p.
until he was enrolled in preschool and he wasn't doing the same things as the other kids.
We then took him to a neurologist and received the news. We were heartbroken and in shock,
at first, and then we gathered all the information that we could and got him the proper
therapy and classes that he needed.
Heath is now in a regular 3rd grade class with modifications
and he also receives Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and adaptive P.E. He
likes everything that a typical 9 year old boy likes. He really likes WWF (World Wresting
Federation), Batman and Science Fiction. One day he wants to be a writer/director like
Steven Spielberg. He also likes swimming and he is looking forward to Hippo therapy
(horseback riding therapy) He has a bright future in front of him. Heath makes
us very proud and we love him very much.
Story written by Liz Tackett for Kid power. CPN was given
permission to use this story.
