Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month: Days 16 – 31

This is part 2 of the Cerebral Palsy Awareness daily posts that Stacy has been putting on James’ Facebook page and will include days 16 through 31 of those posts. If you missed part 1 with days 1 through 15, it can be found here.

Thanks again to the Firefly company for putting these facts together to help raise awareness about cerebral palsy.

 

Day 16:

This is pretty awesome!!

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “16” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text notes that many competitors with cerebral palsy will appear in the Winter Paralympics. To the right of the message is a simple orange skier icon. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 17:

James is spastic.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “17” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text explains that there are four types of cerebral palsy: spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed. To the right is an orange silhouette of a head with gray brain sections marked by arrows to indicate different affected areas. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 18:

Nothing about James is common. He is an original.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “18” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that cerebral palsy is the most common childhood disability. To the right are simple orange icons of a globe and two human figures, one waving. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 19:

That is a lot of people. We had to show James where the Netherlands was.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “19” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text explains that cerebral palsy affects about 17 million people, roughly equal to the population of the Netherlands. To the right is a simple orange silhouette map of the Netherlands. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 20:

It’s pretty surprising that so many people know at least one person living with CP.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “20” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that around 350 million people are connected to someone with cerebral palsy. To the right of the message are simple orange icons of linked human figures representing a network. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 21:

James is very unique. He marches to a beat of his own drum.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “21” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that every case of cerebral palsy is as unique as the person who has it. To the right are two simple orange human figures — an adult and a child, with the child raising an arm. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 22:

James is 1 in 500.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “22” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray and orange text stating that one in every 500 babies is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. To the right is a simple orange silhouette of a baby wearing a diaper. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 23:

We don’t know if James will ever be able to walk.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “23” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that two‑thirds of children with cerebral palsy can walk. To the right is a simple orange walking‑figure icon. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 24:

He usually gets what he wants.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “24” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray and orange text stating that four in five children with cerebral palsy can talk, with a playful note that some talk a lot. To the right are two simple orange human figures with speech bubbles above them. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 25:

James used to wear thick glasses but when he was 4, his eyes got better and no longer needed them.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “25” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that only one in ten children with cerebral palsy have severe visual issues. To the right is a simple orange eye icon. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 26:

James has quad CP…all of his limbs are affected.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “26” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text explains that cerebral palsy can affect all limbs or just some of them. To the right is a simple orange figure using a cane. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 27:

Very true for our family. James’ other medical “quirks” don’t help either.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “27” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that parents raising a child with cerebral palsy do not receive the large financial support many people assume. To the right are three simple orange currency‑note icons. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 28:

That is a lot of kids!

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “28” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that one child every hour is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. To the right of the message is a simple orange clock icon. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 29:

James feels discomfort often and he makes sure mommy and daddy know.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “29” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that three in four children with cerebral palsy experience recurring pain. To the right is a simple orange sad‑face icon. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 30:

Don’t feel bad for James or for us. He is typical in his own mind.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “30” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that most people with cerebral palsy don’t want sympathy — they want opportunities. To the right are simple orange icons representing different professions and activities, including a calculator, stethoscope, book, chef’s hat, scissors, paintbrush, and gear. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.

 

Day 31:

This was our chosen journey, and we are loving it because we are in it together.

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “31” turned sideways on the left side. Large gray text states that raising a child with cerebral palsy isn’t the parenting journey the speaker expected, but they don’t resent anyone else’s. To the right are simple orange icons of a parent and child. A thin orange line separates the main message from smaller text that reads "supporting special‑needs family participation and CP Awareness Month", along with the hashtag #CPAwareness. At the bottom is the orange “firefly” logo and the website “fireflyfriends.com.” A green awareness ribbon appears on the right side of the design.