Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie on here, but just wanted to say hey. I have a 9 1/2 month old son who has a brain injury due to severe anemia when he was born (very long story - will have to post it another time). Our OT has told us that it's a good possibility that he will be diagnosed w/ CP, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can. He already has a lot of the "symptoms" - increased muscle tone in his arms and legs, especially when he is mad/upset/in pain, poor coordination, bad suck/swallow reflex, poor weight gain, behind schedule in the milestones that kind of thing.

He is such an angel though! The doctors told us numerous times that from a medical standpoint he shouldn't even be here, so he is a miracle baby as far as we're concerned! He just smiles at everything!! God was truly watching over us! :angel:

I've been reading the posts for a couple days now, and I have to say - MusicMaker - you are an awesome inspiration. Everything I have read that you have posted is so light hearted, supportive, and positive - I look forward to talking to you in the future! :)

Anyway - I hope all is well with each of you, and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Welcome aaryn,
and thanks for the compliments :) My comments come from 54 years of life experience as a person with Spastic Hemiplegia, and a happy human being...

Yeah, musicmaker is great! I have spastic hemiparesis, so it helps me that my pal (that just happens to be my dad's age) is there for me!

Welcome aaryn drewbear,

I hope you find this forum as informative as I have. I too came here to learn a few things about cp after my daughter was diagnosed with it. There are alot of great people here who will share their experiences to help you get a better idea of what living with cp is about. You can't find that kind of info in a pamplet, doctor, or cp website. :)

Take care,
Melissa

So true, Melissa! There are so many things that we know that doctors try to write up, and they can't come close!

aaryndrewbear, Everyone here is willing to help with any questions that you have! Don't be afraid or hesitate to ask!

Melissa - I understand about not being able to get info from doctors. Drew hasn't been "diagnosed" but he shows so many signs of CP that I almost expect it. How old is your daughter, and how old was she when the dr's diagnosed CP? We've been told that they usually don't diagnose until the child is 2 or 3 years old.

I look forward to talking to each of you!!

Aaryn & Drew Bear

Hey aaryn & drewbear,

My daughter is 2 1/2 now and was diagnosed with cp about one month after her second birthday. When she was 1, a Shriner's Hospital doctor diagnosed it as a brachial plexus injury.

I really don't know what age they usually diagnose cp, but it really seems like an MRI makes the final determination for diagnosis. After all, it is injury to the brain and only an MRI can detect that... or so it is to my knowledge.

"Drew Bear" is a cute nickname. My daughter's is "Ladybug" or sometimes "The Bug". :)

Take care,
Melissa

We've been told that they usually don't diagnose until the child is 2 or 3 years old.

Ummph. Sounds very, very unprofessional :) I was diagnosed when I was 6 months old (I was taken to the pediatric neurologist when I was 4 months).
An early diagnosis is important, because a baby's brain is more plastic and can be better influenced through physical therapy etc.

You're so right Strawberry1,

I was diagnosed at age 5 (1955). Brain retraining was definately difficult, but the human body and mind are very resilient, if one just tries :)

Hey Strawberry1!

Well, he's already had an MRI - he had that while he was in the hospital after he was born. We have a follow-up MRI in August so I guess we'll see what they say then. We are going to a pediatric neurologist, so hopefully they'll have answers! He is already in physical and occupational therapy - and has been since he was about 1 1/2 months, so that's a good thing!

Aaryn & the Bear