Subbing for Jack...

Hello to Jack's readers. I am Jack's mom. He hasn't been able to post lately, because he's in the hospital. In addition to his Cerebral Palsy, he has Chiari Malformation, and had to have surgery to relieve pressure on his brain stem. He is doing well, slowly making progress. I am sure he will be posting soon. Thank you!

Everybody feels left out sometimes

      I have been sick lately and its been so awful. I had a really bad cold and bronchitis (ain't nobody got time for that). When I'm sick, it affects my muscle tone and sometimes I get really tight. It is so hard to get comfortable when I'm like that. I hope it gets better soon because I am so sick of this!
      I am going to talk about feeling left out. Whenever I hear somebody talk about something I can't do, it makes me feel lonely and left out. My mom tells me that everyone feels this way sometimes, even people without disabilities. I know she's probably right. Today I am going to a movie with one of my friends. I love watching movies with my friends because I can totally do that in a wheelchair! There are so many things I can't do, though, and it gets frustrating. My friends talk about stuff and I so wish I could do the stuff they're doing. I know I'm lucky that I can do a lot of stuff. It is great that most places are handicapped accessible. I know things weren't always like that. I can't imagine living like that! I can do so many more things than I can't. (My mom keeps telling me to be positive) I think about that every time I'm feeling left out.
     Believe that you can do so many things. Don't dwell on the things you can't do. Focus on what you can do! Sometimes it's hard to do that. If you don't, you can make yourself get a bad headache and you won't be a happy camper! I learned that the hard way.
Later dudes and dudettes,
Jack

Perseverance!

     I am sorry that it has taken me so long.   My topic today is to persevere. You can do almost anything if you just persevere.   I know that it is tough.   A disabled person can very well get a job.   It is one of the great gifts God has given to us.   Disabilities can’t change our identities.   It is only a part of us.   There are really no limits.   Believe that you can change the world! Believe that anything is possible! Believe! If you persevere, you might make these beliefs come true.   
     Technology is always getting better. Therefore, we have the tools to help us persevere.   What would we do without them?  Good thing that we don’t live in ancient times.   Back then, disabled people could barely do anything.   That must have been so frustrating for them.   Now, we have the resources to make us have a good life.   
     Later, Jack 

Acceptance

Cerebral Palsy can change your life.  It can’t ruin it. You can still do amazing things.  Some people think less of us. We should be perceived as the same as non-disabled people! Sure, we can’t talk as well as other people. That is why there are communication devices. PRC has some great communication devices. Check them out at www.prentrom.com. They have made my life a ton easier.  Without them, I wouldn’t be what I am today. I’m so greatly influenced by my my eco.   

I love to talk to people. It is tough for me to get into a conversation.  My Eco isn’t fast enough.  That is very frustrating.  Therefore, I try hard to make it happen.  Most of the time, it isn’t perfect.  At least I can communicate.   Technology has come a long way.  I can’t wait until the best communication device comes out! 

  

      I just found out that today (January 20th) is a national day of acceptance for people with disabilities. I think that is a really cool idea. I am really lucky that people make me feel accepted. My family always accepts me and I feel accepted at school too. I have never been bullied and I know that I am so lucky. A lot of people with disabilities get bullied. That is so sad. It is sad for anyone to get bullied. I know that some people are different in a lot of ways but that is no reason to be mean. 

Later everybody,

Jack

Merry Christmas!

     Wow, I haven't posted since Thanksgiving! I love Christmas! It's my favorite time of year. I like to hang out with my family. Also, I like to get presents of course. I like to give presents to people, too. Even though I am disabled, I can still have a great Christmas. All you need to have a great Christmas is LOVE. It also helps to have lots of food and presents. Don't forget to go to church!
     Cerebral Palsy is very hard for me. Sometimes, I don't know how I get through it. I get really down about it sometimes. I don't understand why I have CP. Oh well, I just have to live my life anyway. My mom tells me to focus on all the good things in my life, like my friends and family and all the awesome stuff I have.
     I hope everybody has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
     Jack

Thanksgiving...

I am thankful for...
EVERYTHING! First of all, I am thankful for God and to God.
Also...
 my family (parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...)
 my friends
 my puppy, Bailey
 Xbox
 iPad
 Notre Dame football and basketball
 Illinois basketball
 The Chicago BULLS
 Derrick Rose
 The Cubs
 The Bears
 My Haines teams
 food...pizza, tacos, chocolate, Portillo's, Baker's Square pie...
 my Eco2 communication device/computer
 my wheelchair

Even though I have Cerebral Palsy, I have a lot of things that I am thankful for.

Nothing can stop me!

     Hey how is everybody? I'm on Thanksgiving break, so I finally have some extra time! School is going well. Now I'm doing basketball. A lot of the same kids from football are on the team so it's fun. We are undefeated! My friends are awesome athletes! However, my car is not awesome because it won't start. I might have to miss our tournament game today, bummed!
     Sometimes I still get really down about having CP. I try to flush my bad feelings down. It usually does work. Talking with my friends about it and my family helps too. Life is mostly awesome but there's so many things I wish I could do. I wish I could actually be playing on a team. I wish people could always understand me when I talk. I wish I could be more independent and my parents didn't have to go everywhere with me. I love having friends over, but I wish I could go to their houses sometimes. Even eating, I have to have someone help me so I don't get it all over! Oh well. I am lucky to have really great friends and family. Even my little sister helps me a lot. Don't tell her this, but she's pretty cool.
     I am so excited about the holidays! We are going to my Aunt Jen and Uncle Tom's for Thanksgiving. They live about a half hour away and they have the greatest dog, Captain. One of my favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. Why? You get to eat a lot and there's a lot of football! I get to see some of my cousins, too, and my grandparents and aunts and uncles. My uncles and my dad and grandpa love sports like I do. Then, of course comes Christmas. I LOVE Christmas! Maybe one of my upcoming blog posts will be all about Christmas!
     So, sometimes I do feel down about CP, but I know my life will get better. Everyone tells me that I can do just about anything I want to do. I kind of believe that, but sometimes it's hard to. I know one thing, "nothing can stop me!"
Have a Happy Thanksgiving... I just had the best idea! I'll do a post later this week about things I'm thankful for!