Today is a World’s First Day.

It’s World Cerebral Palsy Day.

The last time I posted

about this topic,

we had just been told

my little nephew would later be

 diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Later has come and gone…

We have an official diagnosis.

Our Little Man could sit back

and complain that some of his

 brain messages don’t get

to the areas of his body

they should.

His gorgeous eyes don’t always

 pass on the images

of the beautiful things they see.

 His neck sometimes forgets

to hold his head up high

and sometimes, his little fingers

 curl in to fists.

 He’s learning so much,

but in his own time.

He’s an inspiration:

 his effort…

his determination…

 his patience…

 his happiness.

People could sit back and complain. 

They could whinge

and become frustrated

(which he sometimes does!).

 They could be dragged down

 by their misfortune.

World Cerebral Palsy Day

is giving people a chance

to make things better.

Around 17 million people,

living with cerebral palsy,

are being given the chance

to make their world better…

Or, at least, to suggest

what they would need

 to make their life easier.

Ideas will go on the

World Cerebral Palsy webpage.

Everyone can check the ideas out

 and vote on the concepts

they think will have the most

impact on improving their life.

At the end of September,

a panel will choose the best ideas,

 solutions and inventions…

In November, people will be

 invited to go on-line and suggest

 how these ideas

could be turned into realities.

From December,

the submissions will be reviewed…

And, the best thing…

The products

(currently just wishful thinking!)

will be launched this time next year

– on the 2^nd

World Cerebral Palsy Day.

What an incredible idea!

Check out the ideas here.

A Close Shave

I was sitting in a staff meeting…

paying attention

and showing enthusiasm…

when something

grabbed my attention.

 One of the ladies at work

was going to shave her hair. 

Off. 

She’s been living with leukaemia

 for ten years and needed to

do something big

to mark the anniversary.

  I let the idea float around

 my head a while

and then headed home.

I couldn’t think of a single reason

 not to join her. 

Not one. 

My sisters couldn’t give me

a reason not to, either…

It seemed I had no choice. 

 With my baby nephew

fighting liver cancer

and boasting a cleanly shaven head….

I had plenty of reasons

 TO shave my hair. 

 So, the next morning,

I surrended my hair. 

 A few days later,

my hair was plaited

and three little sets

of fingers each cut off

a section of my hair. 

Dad snipped some off…

and I was left

with chunky hair

at the back of my head. 

 The next day,

my hair was full of plaits…

Kids from my class revelled

in the chance to cut

 their teacher’s hair…

and I was left

with scrappy, messy hair.

  Not for long. 

Clippers soon fixed that. 

 In a blur of crazy moments,

my hair was puddled

on the floor and I was wearing

a short number two style. 

It was amazing! I

 felt younger.

I felt fresh.

I felt clean.

And, I felt good

for supporting a friend

and for supporting Dexter. 

It was amazing to feel

the wind lift the tiny tufts

 of hair on the back

of my head. 

 It was incredible to feel

the water drip through

my shaven hair in the shower…

 Oh, and two flicks of a towel

and my hair was ready to go!

Now, almost a week later

and I can feel how much

my hair has grown.

I love it…

though I have to admit

to the greys

I just cannot cover!

Preoccupied

Each time I have turned my computer on lately, my homepage shows me I am on-line.

Each time I see my homepage,

I feel a little guilty…

a little neglectful. 

I have forgotten the Cow. 

The Cow has lost importance…

relevance.

It’s not the Cow’s fault.

It’s mine.

My mind has been busy

with other things. 

One tiny person in my life

has managed to throw

all routines out…

 I don’t see him much at the moment…

 Because I’m not allowed to…

Because I can make him sick…

Because he’s so sick. 

It’s a scary time,

but there’s no time

to be scared. 

We just have to pick up

and carry on…

we have to keep fighting…

we have to keep our eyes

 on the finish line…

We have to be there for him.

Nothing in his life

has come easy for him,

 and yet he battles on

with a calmness you rarely see.

There is something about him,

 which showers you

with strength and with love.

We have known this

since we first met him,

inside his plastic cage,

attached to all manner

of tubes and machines. 

But now, our community sees it.

They’ve heard his story

and seen his picture. 

They have fallen in love

with my littlest nephew…

 and they are rallying for him.

I have been swept along

in the flood of love

for our Little Man,

and I have neglected the Cow…

again. 

But, I will be back…

maybe not with crazy days…

maybe not every day…

 But I will be back.