TUART Hill mum Emma Albert hopes to break down barriers around people with disabilities and instead look at their abilities ahead of World Cerebral Palsy Day next month.
The 31-year-old, who had what she described as a “normal” pregnancy, gave birth to baby Mikey 19 months ago but after five days discovered he had brain damage.
“After a smooth pregnancy and with only four weeks left in my pregnancy our baby was delivered by emergency caesarean after a visit to my obstetrician because our baby had stopped moving,” she said.
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READ NOW“When Mikey was delivered we were told he had been without oxygen for a period of time and it would be months before we would know the effects of this.
“I was a young, healthy, first time mum, who’d had a smooth pregnancy.
“How did everything go so wrong, so quickly?”
Mrs Albert said while the diagnosis of cerebral palsy was difficult, she looked at the positives and described it as her most rewarding experience.
She now shares her family’s journey on her blog Mighty Able in the hope others would see people with disabilities the same way she did.
“Having a child with different abilities has been eye opening,” she said.
“I’d love for others to look a little further and start a conversation with someone with different abilities.
“As a young, first time mum, being told my baby had been born with a disability was completely devastating and turned my world upside down.
“I’ve been immersed in this world that I knew so little about and I’ve learnt so much so quickly.
“Most importantly I have met the most amazing children and their extremely strong parents along the way.
“Meeting these mighty kids I have learnt to look past their diagnosis, look past the mobility aids, the cochlear implants or the erratic movements because behind all of that is a wonderful person, a person that is able.
“Their abilities may not be considered ‘normal’ but they are abilities none the less.
“These kids endure so much, they spend hours in therapy and in hospital and their mightiness should be celebrated.”
World Cerebral Palsy Day is October 6.
To follow Mikey’s journey visit www.mightyable.com.
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