Before and After - Cerebral Palsy Leg Surgery Photos

This blog has been one of my intentions since setting up these series of blogs. With my DVD footage of my Gait Lab assessments on my walking pre- and post- operation on my leg 6-7 years ago I can finally share.

A quick background just to understand why I had the leg operation 6 years ago in 2003. I was born with Cerebral Palsy. The type that I had involved one leg (indeed one side of my body) being shorter than the other, meaning lesser growth, mobility in that side, etc. In my case it was my left side.

I've often wondered whether people can tell with my walking being any "different". Anyway, part of the operation meant having tests at the Gait Lab. I'm a bit uncomfortable watching it to be fair but I have saved a couple of pictures just to remind myself (before and after). Just something to share:

Taken 22nd August, 2002.
I naturally stood like that, so you can just imagine what the walking was like!


Taken 11th February, 2004.
Medical Science can be pretty impressive!

So you can notice the difference, standing. But I still am very conscious of my walking and my old habit hasn't completely died - sometimes I do have to remind myself, to walk heel first. Still, things are a lot more comfortable now. You will also notice the bobbles stuck to me - these were so they could create computer generated images of me walking. Sadly I couldn't get hold of THAT data!

I remember before the operation looking forward to being able to wear "normal" shoes - rather than ones made specially with a heel build to compensate for the leg length discrepancy. Now I'm sick of having to buy shoes as often as I do!... even if they are so much better.

Moral of the story?: There's always something to moan about...

Archbishop Vincent Nichols Pastoral Letter on Disability

In a letter to be published on the weekend of March 21/22, Archbishop Nichols has addressed on Disability.

In it, he importantly points out that only 8% of disabled people actually are required to use a wheelchair: we need to recognise that disabilities come in many forms, not the stereotypes we might typically subscribe to a disabled person.

He writes... "Remember that those with disabilities tell us that the barrier which most often makes them feel unwelcome or excluded is that of peoples’ attitude. This is something we can change."

This is especially true, think of bullying, discrimination, perhaps people's general attitude to one another: people may say things in jest about just about anyone (talking negatively for example behind someone's back), but is this the example to set I wonder? Not for the disabled, not for children, not for anyone.

There is an important quote he uses to illustrate that those disabled are anything but unequal, lesser than other humans but the same as everyone else:

‘Let us keep those with disabilities at the centre of our life. Let us treasure them and recognise with gratitude the debt we owe them. We begin by imagining that we are giving to them; we end by realising that they have enriched us.’ (Pope John Paul II)

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I would invite all those in the Archdiocese of Birmingham and beyond to read this letter when published but think about the deeper meaning, the underlying tone, the message Vincent Nichols is expressing to us, Catholics and non-Catholics alike: We are all human beings, all created equal, and we must strive to give to any and everyone, equal chances of opportunity for spiritual, moral and personal development. If we didn't afford these opportunities to those less well off, it would be us that are disabled.