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Nothing Is Impossible: Five Heroes Who Beat All Odds – MBCN

Nothing Is Impossible: Five Heroes Who Beat All Odds – MBCN

The journey of life is not an easy one. At certain times during this journey, you might be brutally bombarded with challenges that leave you thoroughly discouraged. This shouldn’t stop you from dreaming big.

A group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood, cerebral palsy is one such challenge. The symptoms include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles and tremors, depending on the severity of the case. Albeit a deadly disorder, CP can be overcome with a little support and a lot of courage.

Every year, World Cerebral Palsy Day is observed globally to ensure that children and adults with CP have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society. Here’s a list of people with cerebral palsy who have inspired many with their bravery and vision.

 

Bonner Paddock

Bonner Paddock

Bonner Paddock was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 11. In 2008, he became the first person with CP to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro unassisted. In 2012, he broke yet another record, becoming the first person with CP to complete the Ironman Triathlon. He is also the founder and chairperson of the OM Foundation, which raises money to build early-learning centers that provide therapies for children with disabilities. A true inspiration, indeed!

 

Christy Brown

Christy Brown

Christy Brown was an Irish painter, poet and author born with a severe case of cerebral palsy. Incapable of any movement, he learned to speak, read, and write with the help of his mother. He is most famous for his autobiography – My Left Foot. In 1970, Christy published another best-selling autobiographical novel, Down All the Days. People like him make us realise that disease is just a word.

 

Geri Jewell

Geri Jewell

Geri Jewell is an American actress, author and motivational speaker. Defying the odds,  she received national recognition for being the first person with cerebral palsy to be cast in a prime-time television series. In 2011, she published her autobiography titled I’m Walking as Straight as I Can. The book spoke about her experience in Hollywood.

 

Ayush Chamoli

Ayush Chamoli

Ayush Chamoli is an #MBCN student with multiple disorders, including cerebral palsy. A vivacious boy, he has faced each obstacle with admirable courage. Despite the odds, he and his family never gave up. Rather, he used the hardships and setbacks to motivate him to try harder. Kids like him are an inspiration for many!

 

Jatin Kanojia

Jatin Kanojia

Jatin Kanojia is a 25-year-old boy from Ghazipur with cerebral palsy, but he hasn’t let his disability define him. Jatin worked hard as a child, completed his education and joined the Wave Group in 2016 as a computer operator. Despite the odds working against him, Jatin has remained focused towards building a career.

These people are an inspiration for everyone as they made us believe that a disease cannot stop you from achieving your goals. They overcame near-impossible obstacles to show us just how much can be accomplished despite limitations.

Also Read: Indian celebrities who didn’t let their disability get the better of them!

 

World Cerebral Palsy Day Celebrations at MBCN

World Cerebral Palsy Day Celebrations at MBCN

Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN) celebrated the World Cerebral Palsy Day with a lot of enthusiasm and vigor. Life is a celebration to those who find happiness in fighting a battle every day against a grave condition bravely. Imbibing the same thought, the words of students echoed from MBCN, the charitable school for mentally and physically challenged – ‘I fight Cerebral Palsy, what’s your super power.’

Join the World Cerebral Palsy Campaign
On the occasion, we celebrate the abilities and confidence of the children with Cerebral Palsy. The idea that was propagated was to love, understand and accept these kids the way they are. Like every year, we had fun activities like- ‘Chitrakari Badi Nirali’, ‘Aaja Nachle’, ‘Chalo Zara Sambhaal Ke’ etc. lined up to bring out their potential in the open.

A Gift of Fun with Therapeutic Effects
These were no ordinary activities but games in the form of exercises that showed how these children came a long way while braving the odds. It was an interesting sight at the Occupational and Physiotherapy department at MBCN where a lot of buzz was going on. For example – The teachers asked each child to colour a picture of apple but it meant a lot more than adding to the fun element. Physical, occupational and recreational therapies were going hand-in-hand with the planned games involving a token of gratification.

Colouring to Modulate Senses
Every child was colouring an image while leaning over a therapy ball. It is not only doing well to their visual, vestibular and multi-sensory processing but also modulating senses related to muscle tone and endurance. The act is beneficial in getting the kids to maintain a rigid position or posture during activity and makes them attentive while helping them have a better grasp.

Dance for Endurance and an Auditory Sense
Those who were dancing to the tunes of music were not unaware that it supported their auditory and multi-sensory processing and improved their muscle tone. As the feet moved, children were no longer lethargic or moved stiffly and paid attention to every beat. They were responding positively to the loud noise that only encouraged them to perform better.

Can Do Spirit Leads the Way
We were observing the joys of Cerebral Palsy and the fighter instinct that exists in all those who overcome it every day. It was an interesting sight to see them wear an ‘I’ and walk through a maze created in the shape of ‘CAN’ leading the way. What was remarkable was visual processing mingled with the modulation of multiple senses.
It wired their brains to put the puzzle together when they easily made their way to the finishing point. Children who finished tasks efficiently in a limited time were declared the winners. What cheered them more was the large crowd present to laud their efforts and the motivational posters pasted all around the walls.
There were few more acts like fetching objects and tearing paper into bits, and passing successfully through the hula hoops. Simultaneously, these activities allow better visual sense, muscle coordination and help an individual self-propel when lying down.