Good Things #3/366: Jack is learning to pedal.

Riding a bike is something most of us expect our kids to do. Often, when expectant couples are dreaming of the future with their new child, amid images of playing football, ballet, school concerts and playing in the backyard, are those of kids on their bikes, tearing around the neighborhood with their besties.

For the parents of children with Cerebral Palsy this is often a dream which is one of the many crushed by the harsh reality of spasticity, dystonia and imbalance. But it's not impossible. Like most things for people with Cerebral Palsy, a lot can be achieved with patience and perseverance (and philanthropy - thought I'd throw that in!)

Welcome to Holland (with apologies to the Dutch...)

Soon after Jack was diagnosed with CP, I was sent the following by his paediatrician. It's a good analogy for the experience of being the parent of a child with a disability. Some days Holland is more like Timbuktoo, or Mars, but the message that it's not Italy but still an interesting place, rings true. Read on and you'll understand.

When 'tough love' is tougher than usual...

As readers of this blog will know, my three year old son Jack has CP. We have to do therapy at home, and try to make every activity an opportunity to stretch, bear weight, sit properly, balance.....the list goes on. It can be exhausting, both physically and mentally.

The Body Cycle has arrived!

As I posted here, Jack got his Second Skin at the beginning of last week, which was a big milestone. The week ended in a big way as well when his Body Cycle arrived late Friday afternoon:

Arrival! Wrapped in plastic...

The Second Skin.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Everyone in our house seems to have been visiting doctors and specialists and physio's for one reason or another. We've been birthday partying, traffic schooling and gratefully accepting cheques on CPEC's behalf (thanks Myer Chadstone!). In there somewhere Jack also got his Second Skin.

Melbourne Marathon :: run for CPEC

I confess this post is a blatant request for money. Fundraising support, that is!

As you may know from More about Jack... my son has quadraplegic cerebral palsy and attends the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Glen Waverley twice a week for therapy sessions with similarly affected children.

A celebration.

Today is our son Jack's third birthday.

It got off to a quiet start as he has gone to his grandparents house for the day with his dad at 6am so I can get some things done (and to save my back a bit from carrying him).

So let me tell you about Jack.