Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jennifers Story
Jen was born 11 weeks Jens mom told him. He ability to use our muscles
early and weighed only 2 suggested that Jens mom and bodies. Cerebral means
pounds. The doctors were take the little girl to a doctor having to do with the brain.
surprised to see what a who could look closely at Palsy means weakness or
strong, wiggly girl she was. Jens development. Jens problems with using the
But when Jen was just a few mom took her to a develop- muscles. Often the injury
days old, she stopped breath- mental specialist who finally happens before birth, some-
ing and was put on a ventila- put a name to all the little times during delivery, or, like
tor. After 24 hours she was things that hadnt seemed Jen, soon after being born.
able to breathe on her own right with Jencerebral
again. The doctors did a lot palsy. CP can be mild, moder-
of tests to find out what had ate, or severe. Mild CP may
happened, but they couldnt What is CP? mean a child is clumsy.
find anything wrong. The rest Moderate CP may mean the
of Jens time in the hospital Cerebral palsyalso child walks with a limp. He
was quiet, and after two known as CPis a condition or she may need a special leg
months she was able to go caused by injury to the parts brace or a cane. More severe
home. Everyone thought she of the brain that control our CP can affect all parts of a
would be just fine. childs physical abilities. A
child with moderate or severe
At home, Jens mom CP may have to use a wheel-
noticed that Jen was really chair and other special
sloppy when she drank equipment.
from her bottle. As the
months went by, Jens is the Sometimes children with
mom noticed other things National Dissemination Center CP can also have learning
she didnt remember for Children with Disabilities. problems, problems with
seeing with Jens older hearing or seeing (called
brother. At six months, Jen NICHCY sensory problems), or intellec-
didnt hold her head up 1825 Connecticut Avenue N.W., tual disabilities. Usually, the
straight. She cried a lot and Suite 700 greater the injury to the
would go stiff with rage. Washington, DC 20009 brain, the more severe the CP.
When Jen went back for 1.800.695.0285 (Voice / TTY) However, CP doesnt get
her six-month checkup, 202.884.8200 (Voice / TTY) worse over time, and most
the doctor was concerned nichcy@aed.org children with CP have a
by what he saw and what www.nichcy.org normal life span.
FS2June 2010
This publication is copyright free. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY).
This publication is made possible through Cooperative Agreement #H326N080003 between the
Academy for Educational Development (AED) and the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S.
Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of
the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations
imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.