Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month: Part 2 (Days 15 – 31)

This is Part 2 of the collection of daily facts about cerebral palsy that Stacy has been posting on the Fans of James Facebook page. This post will include facts from Days 15 through 31. If you missed Part 1, click here to go back to it.

 

Day 15

An awareness graphic features a large orange number “15” turned sideways on the left side. Next to it, large gray text states, “There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with me, I just have cerebral palsy.” To the right of the message is a simple orange thumbs‑up 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 16: No Winter Paralympics this year. We’ll have to wait until 2022.

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: He is far from common; he’s unique.

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: This fact is a few years old. We’re pretty sure the number is higher!

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: This number is probably higher with Facebook. Our family has met so many new friends.

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: Very true!

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: This is an older statistic so there might be more.

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: James can’t walk. I think he likes when his momma carries him.

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 might not be able to talk, but he gets his needs met by the coo sounds he makes.

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 have to wear glasses, but his vision has gotten a bit better over the years.

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: All four of his limbs are affected, but he has been trying to use his fingers and head to activate switches at school.

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: We don’t get financial support, but we do get lots of support from family and friends.

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’s too many!

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 had pain from scoliosis, but since spinal surgery this past summer, we think he is feeling better.

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: All we want is for James to be treated like everyone else.

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: Very true.

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.