7,000 pageviews for Living with Cerebral Palsy!

Hello everyone,
I haven’t posted in ages, I’m so sorry! I’ve been really busy with school and my Grandad hasn’t been very well in hospital for the past six weeks therefore I haven’t had any spare time to post. I hope you are all well and are easing back into the new academic year, I realise we’re already half way through the first term but it’s been very full on for me! ;)
First of all, I just wanted to let you guys know that we’ve  hit 7,000 pageviews! This is huge and shows that people are reading and sharing my blog which is such a nice thought. The more people this blog reaches, the more awareness will be spread about Cerebral Palsy. I’m stunned about how far this blog has grown over the past year or so, it’s truly incredible and it wouldn’t have happened without each and every one of you: my readers. I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Let’s just keep this going, if you know anyone who might benefit from reading my blog, please just share the link! Obviously, I’ll have to do my bit too, which will, definitely, be to post more often about various different topics: as I always say, if you do have any suggestions/requests please don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d love to hear your ideas. I think that is a plan: together we can continue to help this blog grow and thrive to ultimately acheive worldwide awareness for Cerebral Palsy.

On the subject of awareness, on Friday 6th October it was Worldwide Cerebral Palsy Day and I cannot thank my friends and school for all the support! It was truly incredible and touching, by the end of the day half the school and most of the teachers were wearing handmade badges with the green awareness ribbon on them (special thanks goes out to everyone in 10AOK for making these and handing them out to anyone they saw!). Everyone in my class had green ribbon tied around their ponytails as well. The best bit though was if anyone asked why we were wearing green, my classmates would happily explain and by doing this, further awareness was being spread! We also did a special assembly on the following Monday, focusing on what CP is and how you can help people with the condition. Honestly, it was so nice to see everyone getting involved as there are 17 million people across the globe living with Cerebral Palsy and not everyone gets the adequate care or assistance they need to be able to reach their full potential. Thank you to everyone who helped spread awareness, you’ve made a difference!

Something really exciting happened a couple of weeks ago, something I had been looking forward to for months. On Saturday 14th October, it was the CP Teens UK annual charity Ball! It was such a lovely night, I cannot believe I have to wait nearly a year for the next one! I met so many incredible people and learned an awful lot too, one thing being that if I had plucked up the courage to wear heels I would have been in agony by the second hour so thankfully for me, I went for slightly more sensible footwear, some navy blue fringed ankle boots! I had so much fun and would go back to that beautiful night in a heartbeat! If you would like to see the photos from the evening, please visit the CP Teens UK Facebook Page :)

In other news, I’m finally having a physio appointment next Wednesday which hopefully will be great as I am in great need of one. Some how I’ve managed to injure my left hip and it’s been agony when walking and standing for about a week now so I’ll be very grateful to be able to get some advice! It’s nearly the end of half term, I go back to school on Monday. This half term, I haven’t really done much apart from sleep, recover, sleep, recover and more sleep! But to be honest, I think that’s what my body needed: a break from the 11 hour school days to just do nothing but relax. I’m looking forward to going back but I’m also slightly worried about how tired I’m going to be getting and whether my body can cope with that but I love the school to pieces so will do anything to make it work. I’ll keep you updated. Seizure update: I’m very stable at the moment which is good but I still suffer from side effects of the AEDs, drowsiness being the main one which is awfully annoying! But I guess I just have to pace myself and see how I go.

Thank you very much for reading and if you haven’t already, please can I ask you to join my mailing list so you’ll receive an email every time I post, which let’s be honest isn’t that often so I like to think of it as a gentle reminder ;) you can join by entering your email address into the box below ‘Follow by email!’ at the top of this page to your right! :)

Thanks again,
Evie :) x

My summer break so far and what I have been up to!

Hello guys!
How is everyone doing? It's been a while since I last posted and I have been up to rather a lot during my summer holiday therefore in this post I will tell you all about it!
Before I continue, I would just like to congratulate my fellow blogger and close friend, Chloe Tear, for taking part in Scope's campaign to change attitudes towards disability and her amazing interview this morning on BBC Breakfast discussing this issue! Well done Chloe, you were incredible! If you would like to read Chloe's blog, go to the 'Links' page!

As I said in my previous post, I went to Mallorca on 10th July. This was the first time I had been abroad since having seizures therefore I was very relived that it went smoothly seizure wise. Unfortunately however, there were several issues with the travel company we booked with therefore the first few days were extremely stressful and upsetting. The hotel did all they could to help us enjoy the rest of our holiday and I'm so thankful to them. Before I went, I did have some concerns about flying with Epilepsy as it was a new experience for my family and I but I'm happy to report that I didn't have any major seizures on the plane. Yay! If you would like to see some holiday snaps, please check out the 'Photos' page!

After we came back from Mallorca, I had a few days just lazing about the house to recover and then I went to stay at my Grandparents for a couple of nights which was lovely! They live near the sea so I was able to swim everyday which was lovely, there is nothing I like better than swimming in the sea at the beach I was pretty much brought up on. When we younger, my sister and I were convinced we were mermaids! Sadly, since I've started having seizures I haven't been able to swim as freely as I would like as I now wear a flotation jacket just in case I was to start seizing in the water.

Starting on 27th July, my Dad and I went to Camp Bestival which is a relatively small music festival held in Lulworth Castle, Dorset. This was our 7th consecutive year going and as you can probably tell, it has kind of become a tradition in our house! It was extremely enjoyable despite the wet weather and mud! There weren't that many famous artists playing therefore we sent most of our time in the Comedy Tent which was great fun! Again, I had to adjust my festival experience due to having seizures: making sure I didn't get too tired, remembering to take my AEDs and avoiding flashing lights as much as possible which you can probably gather is quite a difficult thing to do at a music festival! We couldn't watch any acts in the evenings as this is when they would start using strobe and other lighting effects which trigger my seizures. However, even with these adjustments, I still managed to get into the festival vibe and thoroughly enjoy myself! I'm already looking forward to Camp B 2018! ;)

A couple of days into August, I went to be fitted for my new school uniform! I am SO excited to go back and absolutely can't wait! We start on Monday 4th September and it can't come soon enough. If any of you are wondering, I think I've decided to take triple Science, Geography and Spanish for my GCSE options as well as Maths, English Language, English Literature and Religious Studies (which are all compulsory) leaving me with a total of nine GCSEs.

On 31st July, my Auntie and eight year-old cousin arrived to visit from Belgium. It was lovely seeing them again and as they stayed this my Grandparents, we will able to go to the beach with them most days! We only get to see them approximately once a year so it was lovely to catch up and see how much my cousin had grown!

On 12th August, my Grandparents did what they have done for several years now and hired a beach hut for a week for us which was extremely generous so THANK YOU! It was a lovely week and full of many swims in the sea which made it even better! Again, I stayed with my Grandparents for several nights during that week which was really nice and I enjoyed it so very much.

Over the past week or so, I have been doing several hours of volunteer work at my local library which I really enjoy and find very rewarding. I spend my time working for the Summer Reading Challenge which is a programme set up to encourage children from the age of four to read! I basically sit at a desk and children come up to me and say they have read more books and I give them stickers, once they have finished the challenge, they receive a certificate and medal. It's lovely when the  children enjoy describing the storyline of the book they have just read and their favourite parts etc!

I have just over a week left of my summer holiday and I have to say it has really flown by! The good news is that my seizures have continued to be pretty stable therefore I'm feeling quite positive about that aspect! I have an appointment with my specialist neurologist in Southampton on 18th September (my sixteenth birthday!) so that will hopefully all go well and I'll update you afterwards! My Dad has the whole of next week off work so we can do things as a family which will be nice. My sister received her A-Level results last week and has got into Reading University!!!! Well done Grace, all your hard work has finally paid off, I'm so proud of you! It will be strange to be the only child in the house and will definitely take some getting used to!

I apologise for this very long post but I had so much to update you guys on! :) I'm debating whether to set up a Facebook page to run along side this blog so I can do live Q&A sessions and other things! Do you think that would be a good idea and would you enjoy it? Please let me know your thoughts by either commenting on this post on contacting me another way. Thank you for reading and I hope you are all having lovely summers!

Evie :) x

Update with Regards to School

Hello everyone!

I thought I'd just write a quick and short post just to update you about my school trial that I mentioned in my previous post.

The trial went extremely well, I really do love the school and everyone in it. I am therefore pleased to tell you that I will be staying there which is so amazing! As of last Thursday, it's our Summer Holidays and I'm going to Mallorca for a week on Monday. I will update you about how Mallorca was and include photos when I get back!

Apart from that, there is not much to report. I'm looking forward to my two months off and will take full advantage of it as much as possible!
I'm sorry this was very short but I'll write a post in a couple of weeks which will far more detailed!

Thank you for reading,
Evie :) x

I'm sorry...

Hello everyone!
I thought I'd post today because I feel so guilty for leaving you hanging and not posting in ages. I'm sorry. I will try and explain what has been happenning in my life and why I haven't been able to post. Thank you to everyone reading this and sticking by me, it truly means a lot and I really appreciate it so thank you! :)

I've had a very different but exciting past few weeks as I have been trialling a new school. It has been tiring but I'm absolutely loving it! Just to be clear, I liked my previous school however it is extremely big and I just felt a smaller school would suit me better. I've actually gone two weeks today and I'm feeling so much more positive. This school has an extremely gentle and caring aspect to it and for me this has been really nice. I have made lots of new friends who are lovely and I'm generally just loving being there. The days are longer: I get up at 6:30am and have to be on the minibus by 7:35am so it's an early start for me! Lessons finish at 4:30pm however the minibus doesn't arrive until 6 o'clock meaning there is a bit of time inbetween either to get work done or attend a club. I arrive back at home at around 6:50pm therefore it's an extremely long day but I am getting used to it...slowly! I have three weeks of my trial remaining and then hopefully they will offer me a place for September which I will be delighted to accept!

Anyway, because of these long days I haven't had much time to post but I'm finally getting round to it now (yes, I realise it's a bit late but oh well!). I've also had to sit eight end of year exams therefore many of my short evenings have been spent revising. However, luckily exams are over now and the stress is off! I've started getting a few of my results back and I've very pleased since I had only been at the school for three days before I sat my first exam and with the meds I'm on, I do regularly suffer from brain fog!

With the school gossip over, I'll very quickly update you about the rest of my life. I had my brain MRI but I haven't received the results from that yet which I must remember to chase up! In terms of seizures, my meds have been stable for quite a while now and my seizures are decreasing (praise the lord) with on average only one major seizure per month which is incredible. Hopefully, this summer we may be going abroad which will be lovely as I've had to cancel two holidays due to my condition being too unstable. But if I do get to go abroad, I'll embrace every moment as I have been praying for this for months and months! To be honest, that is about all that has been going on in my life over the past month (I know, not very exciting!) my time has mainly been taken up with school things and although that may sound annoying, I'm loving every moment!

Once again, I'm sorry it's been so long and I also can't apologise enough for how uninteresting this post has been but I don't lead an incredible life, I'm just grateful for the little things! Thank you for getting to the end of this post without dying of boredom, I do appreciate it! ;)

I promise to speak soon,
Evie :) x

Update with photos!

Hello everyone,
Long time, no talk. I'm really sorry I haven't posted in ages,  I've been really tired and busy! Anyway, today I thought I'd update you on what is generally going on in my life at the moment. This topic was suggested by Beth, thank you for the suggestion and for getting involved! Remember, if you have any queries, ideas or post suggestions please don't hestitate to contact me either via the contact form to your right or check out the 'Contact' page on this blog to find out other ways you can get in touch! I look forward to hearing from a few of you soon.

First of all, I'd like to thank YOU, my readers, for the ongoing support. I am really thankful. Amazingly, I have almost reached 5,000 page views which is absolutely a dream come true and I hope this blog continues to grow and spread awareness of chronic conditions all over the world!

Over the last month or so, my seizures have been continuing to reduce which is really good! In late April, I had an appointment following my 48 hour video telemetry EEG in March and I was given a new diagnosis of Cortical Myoclonus. This causes either one group of muscles or several groups to jerk and therefore causes seizures. Depending on which and how many muscles are involved the severity of these seizures can vary hugely: I may just have a brief jerk of one limb or pretty much all my muscles can be involved leading to a much larger seizure where I cannot move. In many people with Cortical Myoclonus, it is caused by epileptic waves. However, in my case because I have pre-existing brain damage, it is this which causes the wrong signals to be sent out or signals to be disrupted causing a seizure occur. Cortical Myoclonus can mean you have other seizures, for example in my case I have absences, complex partials and occasionally tonic clonic seizures. Luckily, my seizures are not caused by epileptic waves however they are treated the same as if they were epileptic. Therefore, I am just on a load of Anti Epileptic Drugs and thankfully these seem to be keeping the majority of my seizures under control which is a huge step. Cortical Myoclonus is rare and the symptoms vary from person to person.

I am not currently having anymore EEGs but I'm having a brain MRI on 25th May just to rule anything else out and to check my brain damage. I am seeing my paediatrician every 6 months now and if have any worries at all, I can just email her which has been a great help. I have an appointment this coming Monday with a specialist neurologist in Southampton, I'm not sure what will come if this but I will keep you updated.

AFO splints

My life generally has been pretty good to be honest. I am attending school full time and mainly keeping up with the work load although it can be extremely tiring at times! I'm really glad to be back at school though: I'm slowing gaining independence and getting my life back on track! My new AFOs have really helped to improve my walking and are surprisingly comfortable! I now wear them everyday as they also improving my balance so I am more stable. On 30th April my sister Grace turned eighteen making her officially an adult which is crazy. She will be leaving for university in September and it is going to feel so different around here... We may argue all the time but I will really miss her when she leaves!

On a slightly more negative note, I have been struggling with horrendous back and neck pain which has been made worse by a seizure I had on concrete last week. I have been trying the usual pain relieving techniques including applying heat and ice, doing gentle stretches and using a T.E.N.S machine. These have all helped to some degree however I'm still in a lot of pain and needing to take Codeine on a regular basis. Today, I bought some Deep Freeze spray which seems to be helping my neck which is good however if anyone has any suggestions/advice for me please do leave a comment or get in touch another way. Thank you!

Again, I apologise for not posting in a while, I promise I won't leave it this long again! Thank you for  taking the time to read this post and I'll speak to you guys soon!

Evie x

School with Cerebral Palsy

Hello everyone,

I hope you have all had a lovely week. Today I thought I'd post about what school is like with Cerebral Palsy. I had a suggestion from Sam to do this post so thank you for your input.

I really don't know where to start, I have been in school for nearly eleven years now and have attended three different schools. I have had very negative experiences but also extremely positive ones too. I will start at the very beginning and tell you about my first school. In the UK, we start school when we're four years old however most people will go to preschool before that for a couple of years. I went to preschool from the age of two and a half, it was connected to my first school where my sister was. They were really supportive and did everything they could so that I could be like any other toddler and also, because I was so young, I didn't really realise or think I was any different from anyone else. Yes, I had to wear splints and I was a bit more 'wobbly' than the other kids but nobody really cared, as you do in preschool I could walk up to someone, spend half an hour playing in the sand pit and next thing you know, we'd be best friends. That was just how it worked, everyone was so young and innocent, they didn't care who they were seen with or what they looked like, they just enjoyed the simple pleasures of life.

At the age of four, it was time to go to school and start learning. The first few years were fine, I played mainly, did some simple numeracy, literacy and maybe if I was lucky I'd learn some IT skills. However, it was too good to last. At the age of around seven, I began noticing my disability and differences, I remember questioning an awful lot of things, including 'why did god put me in this body?', To be honest, even to this day I still ask myself that and I don't think I'll ever find an answer that will satisfy me. Maybe, it's because I'm a stronger person than I would have been without my disability? I don't know but to be honest I am really happy with my body. Yes, I have bad days where I do question things but then again doesn't everybody? Right, I feel like I've drifted off topic slightly so let’s get back to it. I started doing daily physio at school with a TA, who I know will probably be reading this and she was incredible and made my entire school experience so much more enjoyable. Thank you! The physio exercises were tough and as a small child, I often rebelled against them however I now know that if I hadn't done them all those years ago, I'd be much worse today. For the remainder of first school, nothing much changed, I still generally fitted in and had a good time. I learnt a lot whilst still having fun!

At the age of nine and at the end of Year 4, it was time to move on from the school which I had been at for five years to middle school which was four times the size! I think moving from first school to middle school is a big jump for any child but because of my disability I believe the move was even tougher. Before we go on any further, I just like to mention that throughout my school years I've always had full time 1:1 support, this means that I have a TA with me every lesson. One major change that I had to endure from first school to middle school was that we had to move to a different classroom for each lesson. Previously, I had been in one classroom throughout the entire day so I didn't have to move around much. The increased movement meant there was a much higher risk of falling and therefore injury. I was extremely tired for the first few months because my body was having to work so much harder, all in all though the first two years of middle school were pretty good. A couple of months into Year 7 however my health began to deteriorate, I was experiencing very bad back pain and increased muscle spasms. As a result of this, I had almost a term off school because I was in so much pain. When I came back, sadly most of my friends who were there before had moved on and forgot about me. I can fully understand that they had to make new friends in my absence but unfortunately when I did come back they weren't willing to welcome me into their new group of friends. As you can probably imagine, this lead to me feeling very down and sometimes depressed, it is a well known fact that your pain tolerance is dramatically reduced when you're mood isn't great. So there I was, in pain and being excluded from friendship groups. It was NOT a fun year. In Year 8, I continued to be bullied but even worse this time, I would be called names, be excluded from anything and everything and people would make up stories about me and say that I'd done horrible things when I hadn't. Even though in some ways Year 8 was worse than Year 7, I think I coped with it better because I was in less pain and I tried not to let the bullies bring me down. My attendance was a lot better and I realised that it wasn't long until I would leave that school and never have to speak to my 'friends' ever again. I could just leave them behind with all the awful memories and start fresh at upper school. I think another reason why I hated that school was because they weren't supportive or equipped to help people with physical disabilities, I was the only physically disabled child there and I felt really alone.

When I was thirteen, I finally left middle school and came to my current upper school. Most people were really nervous about leaving but I couldn't wait! All I wanted was a fresh start. I am currently in Year 10 and taking my GCSE options. This school is definitely a lot better than my middle school. They're really supportive and caring. I get daily physio is a specialised department which is incredible because before I barely was allowed to even do it and when I did, I was in a room so small it felt like a cupboard! It is also nice because everywhere is accessible and there are about fifteen students in total with physical disabilities so I have people to talk to who I can relate with. The lessons are really good as well and most of the teachers are really supportive and will do anything they can to make sure you're included and just like any other student. The support staff are amazing too and since I have started having seizures, they are not fazed and know what to do which is a reassurance. I have made some really brilliant new friends both in my tutor group and in lessons. Yes, they are still the odd one or two people who are bitchy or discriminative but I just try to ignore them and focus on the people who really do care. Obviously, the past few months haven't been great with the seizure and medication but overall I enjoy school and I am absolutely loving that I am now back full time after over three months!

In other news, I pick up my new splints and orthopaedic shoes on Wednesday which will be good as I have been feeling a lot less stable over the past few months so hopefully this will help. On a slightly more negative note, I had quite a large cluster of seizures lasting over half an hour on Thursday therefore, because of the school's protocol, I was taken up to hospital by ambulance. Luckily, I wasn't admitted and after about an hour and a half I was discharged from A&E. This has left me extremely tired and I'm still in quite a lot of pain now but I am getting better and before Thursday I hadn't had a large seizure in almost a month so that's a positive. I am still awaiting my EEG results but I should hear from my doctor soon who hopefully will be able to give my family and I more information about the nature of my seizures which will be good.

Thank you again Sam for suggesting this topic and I hope you have all enjoyed reading this post.

Thank you,

Evie :) x

Cerebral Palsy awareness, EEGs and new splints!

Hello!
Before I start this very detailed and probably long blog post, I have to apologise for the lack of posts over the past few weeks. I am sorry I haven't posted for a while, I have been busy and tired but hopefully this post will make up it as this is a huge update about my life! Anyway, let's go on.

Born at 29 weeks

First of all, I like to thank the people who have got into contact with me regarding this blog! It has been lovely to hear from you! If you wish to get in touch with me whether it's with a question, idea or just to chat please refer to the 'contact' tab! I look forward to hearing from you :)

Well, what a busy few weeks I have had! I don't know where to start. It's Cerebral Palsy Awareness day! Approximately 17 million people worldwide have Cerebral Palsy, it is so important that we raise awareness. Even though 1 in 500 babies are born with Cerebral Palsy, the majority of people probably don't really know what the condition entails. It is our job to raise as much awareness as possible therefore people will become more educated and less afraid of becoming friends with someone with CP.

Last week, I began doing full days at school which was such an incredible feeling as I hadn't done a full day since December 2016 so this was an amazing achievement even though it may seem small! I have now done 7 full days and yes I may be tired but this has been my goal since Christmas so I honestly couldn't be happier!

EEG Camera

My anti-epileptic drugs seem to have taken a really positive affect over the past few weeks and my seizures have been dramatically reduced, I have gone from having seizures several times a day to once or twice a week, this is a huge achievement and I definitely am feeling more positive. On Wednesday, I had a 48 hour home EEG, ECG and video. This meant that I had 25 electrodes glued onto my scalp to measure my brainwaves, 2 wires attached to my chest to monitor my heartrate and breathing and a very high-tech camera with infrared to film me 24hrs a day. I had to go up to Poole three times; firstly to have it all fitted, secondly after 24 hours to get the batteries changed and the data synched and lastly to get it all removed and to make sure the data was safely downloaded. I had one seizure during the test so hopefully now they have captured that, they will be able to give my family and I more information and a firm diagnosis. So now, all I have to do is wait as it will take the medical professionals a few weeks to work through the data and understand what is going on inside my brain! I have an inpatient EEG, ECG and video booked for Monday 10th April so if they don't get all the information they need from this test, I will be admitted for five days and they will try and capture more and different seizures.

Splint cast

On another topic, I had an orthotic appointment a couple of weeks ago and I am getting two new AFO splints (for my feet, ankles and legs) instead of just the one I have for my left foot at the moment. I am also getting a new pair of orthopaedic shoes as the soles have started falling apart on my current ones. For people who have never had splint casting done before, basically it is the same as a plaster cast which you would have for a broken leg apart from they are removed and used to mould my splints so they fit my feet correctly. I have had AFOs on and off for my entire life but I haven't worn two since I was about ten so it will be interesting to see if and what difference they make to not only my walking but my pain as well. I chose purple for the colour of course!




Thank you for reading this awfully long update post, I hope it didn't bore you too much! ;) By the way I am about to hit 4,000 page views which is absolutely amazing and it's all down to you guys, my readers so thank you!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Evie :) x

Living with Medication!

Hiya,
I hope you all had a lovely weekend. This post us all about the ups and downs of living with regular medication. I have been on lots of different meds so please be aware this may be a long one!
As all of you probably know, I have Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain injury before, during or just after birth. I was born at 29 weeks and had a small brain haemorrhage which led to me having brain damage and as a result I have Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy. Spastic Diplegia basically means all my muscles are stiffer than they should be, all four of my limbs are affected but my legs are more affected than my arms and my left side is worse than my right.

Let's move on to medication, as my muscles are stiff I can experience painful spasms, these got drastically worse when I was about ten or eleven. To reduce my discomfort, I was prescribed Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxant, this medication really helped my spasms but it also loosened me up generally so I was able to do more and walk further which was a bonus! I have now been on Baclofen at 80mg per day for over four years and it has been really beneficial to me.

As a result of having CP, I experience chronic pain, CP is just a very painful condition! Aha. Therefore, I take painkillers frequently, mainly Paracetamol but on a bad day especially after cluster seizures, I have been prescribed Codeine which really does help.

Recently, as you may know I have been experiencing seizures, since last May to be precise. In December 2016, I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and put on Anti Epileptic Drugs called Levetiracetam (Keppra) and Clonazepam. I am on top dose now and my seizures, even though I am not seizure free, have been significantly reduced. I am on 1250mg twice a day of Keppra and 1.5mg of Clonazepam at night.

So there you go, all my medications! 23 pills a day plus painkillers if needed, everyone says I must rattle! Aha. I have previously been on Diazepam but as I was put on Clonazepam to help control my seizures, there has been no need for that over the past few months. I also take vitamins once a day because apparently they can help reduce pain?! Whether this is true or not I'll never know but it is always good to take extra Vitamin D!

I am sorry if this post hasn't been very interesting but I really aim to post weekly and I didn't want to let anyone down. To be honest, I am struggling for topics so please if you have any ideas please comment, email or Facebook message me! I'd love to hear from you. If you are looking for something slightly more exciting and interesting I'll link a few of my more 'popular' blog posts for you to check out:
http://livingwithcerebralpalsyevie.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/what-is-it-like-to-have-friend-with.html
What is it like to have a friend with Cerebral Palsy?

http://livingwithcerebralpalsyevie.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/oh-joys-of-hospital-appointments.html
Oh the joys of hospital appointments!

http://livingwithcerebralpalsyevie.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/common-stereoypes-surrounding-disability.html
Common Stereotypes Surrounding Disability

http://livingwithcerebralpalsyevie.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/an-old-facebook-post-of-mine.html
An old Facebook post of mine

Here is a link to my Facebook so if you'd like to get in touch please do!
https://www.facebook.com/evie.lemon.18

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a lovely rest of your day.
Evie :) x

My obsession with audiobooks!

Hello lovely readers,
This is a bit of a random post of let's just go with it. I am going to be talking about my love of audiobooks.
I don't actually enjoy reading that much. I know you may be thinking 'no!' or 'why not?'  but it's better to be honest! Before you wonder, I DO read but mainly articles or non-fiction, I don't really like fiction. However, if I find a novel I like, I will read it like there is no tomorrow whether I'm in the bath, eating or just about to go to bed, I'll get through it in a few days and then probably read it a second time a few months later! I will start books but unless I actually enjoy it, I'll usually just stop when I realise that this book just isn't for me, in other words I won't just power on through and hope it gets better. So basically I am not an avid reader, I have read maybe two dozen actual long novels in my lifetime but the books I do read, I really enjoy.


Right, now I have explained why I don't tend to read novels I will get on and tell you about my love of audiobooks and how I came across them. At the moment, I tire easily and find it even harder to read after a long day, my brain just cannot process what my eyes are seeing so it is pretty pointless. For a lot of people, reading is what they do last thing before they go to sleep as a way to wind-down and relax. For me, I set up my sleep tracking app and my alarm, I then open 'audible' (which is an app for audiobooks) I select the book I would like to listen to, at the moment I am re-listening to Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, I put it on a sleep timer,  plug my phone into charge and place it  next to my pillow. I love listening to a book before I go to sleep because it means I can shift down in my bed, get comfy and just listen. I find this really calming. I don't just listen to audiobooks before I go to bed, I will sometimes put them on in the background whilst I get ready for the day or when I am tidying my room. I just find listening to books works better for me than reading them, especially now, because of my medication, I tend to be quite spacey.

The only downside of audiobooks is they tend to be almost double the price of paperbacks even when it is just a download and not a CD. I guess this is because they sell a lot less audiobooks than your average paperback. It is quite annoying though because at the moment, I've been getting through them so fast. But anyway.

I find audiobooks a great way to escape from everyday struggles and worries, just to be somewhere else in a different life for half an hour. This is the same for books and I have nothing against reading, it is just more difficult at the moment.

In other news, I have picked up my new pair of orthopaedic boots and insoles, my last pair were identical but sadly the soles started wearing through because of the way I walk but I have a new pair now so that's all good. My anti-epileptics are back up at top dose and I haven't had a 'large' seizure for almost three days so that's a small victory! I haven't heard anything about my inpatient EEG yet but it should be either this week or next.
I haven't been feeling brilliant for the past few days, I think I have some sort of bug therefore I'm sorry if this post isn't very good, I'm hopeful next week's one will be better but thank you for sticking with it!
I hope you have all had a good day.
Evie :) x

Oh the joys of hospital appointments!

Hello,
On Monday, I had an appointment in Southampton General Hospital with a specialist neurologist! We have been waiting for this appointment since June 2016 so it was kind of a big deal, not only to me but for my entire family and my doctors here in my local town.
I'll just run you through how the day went and what we did! We left our house just before 10am as it takes an hour and a half to get to Southampton from where we live. When we arrived, we did pretty much what we always do when I have an appointment in a city, of course we went to Ikea! I had a hotdog and a milkshake so life was pretty good. Aha. We had a quick look around and met this lovely family, whose daughter Joy, also was a wheelchair user and we had a brief but lovely chat about how Joy plays wheelchair basketball with Team GB and how she went to Rio 2016! Pretty amazing. Anyway, so we got talking and I told her I have played wheelchair basketball in the past but there aren't any clubs near me so it is a bit difficult, but when I used to, I absolutely loved it! We exchanged contact details and hopefully now I can persuade my parents to drive me to a club! If you are reading this Joy, it was lovely meeting you and your family and I hope we can stay in touch! I have now officially met two Paralympian's! Pretty cool.
We then headed for the hospital at around 12:50pm, my appointment was at 2pm, so we would have plenty of time to find where we were supposed to be and to park etc. I hadn't been to Southampton General for about three years so quite a lot had changed, they had refurbished the entrance, a few of the shops had changed but for me I still was really nervous, SGH has always in a way scared me. I think it's because I have had a few bad experiences there and it's so big and isn't familiar.

Me having a previous EEG!

We then found 'Children's Outpatients' and 'checked in' at the reception. I then had to do what you always have to do before appointments, I have got quite bored of this by now, being weighed and measured. I didn't mind this so much when I was little but all teenagers have some level of self-consciousness, including me, therefore even though I shouldn't, I find this slightly awkward and embarrassing. My parents and I then took a seat in the waiting room, which was so hot, I don't know whether any of you have noticed this but aren't hospitals always uncomfortably hot?!Aha. Anyway, we waited and as we waited the nerves grew and grew and grew until we were finally called in by the doctor.
I won't go into loads of detail because to be honest not much came out of it, most of the appointment was going through my medical history and so on because I had never met with this particular neurologist before. We were in the room for just over half an hour and the outcome was that he would up the dose of my anti-epileptics and refer me for yet another urgent EEG, I have had four since about July 2016 and this will be my second video telemetry. Basically, I will stay in hospital for up to five days, they will record my brain waves and heart rate but also video me 24/7 simultaneously. I have had one of these before in November 2016 and it wasn't the best experience, you aren't allowed out of your hospital room for the duration of the test which is VERY claustrophobic. Imagine, 5 days in one room with NO WIFI! How will I survive?! ;) Because the neurologist wants it to be done as soon as possible, I'll be likely to be admitted sometime over the next few weeks. Hopefully, once the results come back from this test, my condition will become clearer and the doctors should be able to give me and my family a  more certain diagnosis and further advice. Which will be great!
In other news, I am now doing four hours in school and three lessons. Every week, this will be upped so next week I'll be doing five hours and so on and so on until I am back full time which is going to be such a great feeling! It should take four weeks but it will be worth it. :)

I realise this post has been very medical but I hope it gives you an idea about what is going to be happening over the next few weeks to a month. I might not be able to post when I am in hospital but I'll try and write an interesting one about a topic which I am passionate about when I am in there as there won't be much else to do. Aha ;) and I'll post it when I come back home and back to civilization where there is wifi and a proper shower!

Thank you for reading,
Evie :) x

What is it like to have a friend with Cerebral Palsy?

Hello!

This post is slightly different as I haven't actually written it. About a week ago, I asked one of my close friends, Kate, to write a blog post about what it is like from her point of view to have a friend with Cerebral Palsy. I can't thank Kate enough for writing this because I feel it gives a view from an able-bodied person about having friendships with individuals who have disabilities. I have found it really interesting to read myself so I hope you enjoy it and it gives you an insight on what it really is like to have a friend with CP.

Kate and I have known each other since we were really little, however it has only been over the past two years or so that we have formed a friendship. My older sister, Grace, is friends with Kate and has been for many years, since they were about three I believe! Kate has really helped me both physically and emotionally through times which have been quite difficult over the past year or so. We have a very light hearted friendship and basically can just laugh at anything when we are together. Kate is 2 and a half years older than me, you may think it would be hard to form a friendship with an age gap however I find it really helpful because it means that I feel very safe when I am with her, in case I fall or have a seizure etc. This is because Kate is almost an adult and is more mature than me therefore with both that and also her frequent experiences with people with CP, I can really trust that if there were to be a problem, she wouldn't panic or get stressed but just deal with the situation in hand. Our friendship is like any other really, we just might face a few more challenges but I honestly believe, the laughs we have together are truly hilarious and we will remember them for years to come! Aha.

Anyway, I'll stop talking now and let you read what Kate has to say about having a friend with Cerebral Palsy, enjoy!
Evie :) x

'Hi everyone,
When I was asked to write this blog about what it's like to have a friend with Cerebral Palsy, my first reaction was "well it's just like any other friendship". However, in reflection, there is something special about a friendship with someone who has CP,  I will try to explain why.

I am in Year 13 in the 6th form. I myself do not have Cerebral Palsy, however I do have many close friends with the condition or a similar type of disability and have done so throughout my school life. It was in Year 1 when I was asked to take the new girl in my class who used a wheelchair to go and get the register. When I mistakingly pushed her straight into a towering wooden door and her chair tipped right over I felt like the most awful person alive, but when she burst out laughing and told me it was fine and she thought it was absolutely hilarious, I immediately felt at ease. It was at that moment that I made a very strong friendship with someone who I am still close friends with today. That day she put me at ease about disability by just having such a great reaction, she made me realise that disability was nothing to be worried about.

Kate                               Evie

Our trip to attempt ice-skating!

The first thing I would say about having a friend with CP is how rewarding it can be. Watching a friend achieve things they never thought possible and knowing you have helped them to do so is such an amazing feeling. My friends with CP have made me realise the important things in life, how lucky we all are and to be grateful for the smallest of things.

It is true that I have experienced a number of unsettling times with my friends with CP. Watching a friend have to go through life threatening surgery and seeing them come out with complications has been incredibly upsetting. Watching a friend be admitted to hospital numerous times as a result of having uncontrollable seizures or be suffering with uncontrollable pain is something no one wants to see anyone go through, let alone their close friends. However, it is these friends with CP that have to endure the most awful experiences that have the most positive outlook. They don't complain, instead they are grateful that it's not worse and get through it with admirable laughter.

This is the best thing about my friends with CP, the laughter. They will make everything laughable (this includes at the most inappropriate of times, ha!) When faced with the most frustrating circumstances such as not being able to access the one place you always wanted to go, ignorant people staring or falling over because of the disability, In any situation, laughter is always the first solution. A great example is when Evie and I were out in town when she first got her new self propelled manual wheelchair. We were in a shop talking to a friend and suddenly Evie's chair tipped backwards leaving her flat on the floor with her legs in the air. Her reaction: laughter, for at least five minutes both Evie and I were in hysterics, Evie on the floor and me sat next to her unable to function because we were so hysterical. The passers by looked horrified at the fact that a girl using a wheelchair was on the floor yet both her and her friend found it so ridiculously amusing, but we did not give a dam, that's why I love my friends with CP. It is the way they can turn circumstances that most would think to be awful into comical events. It takes a lot to be able to laugh at the situations which most people would break at, it is for this that I truly admire my friends with CP.

Having a friend with CP does mean that you may have to help with a few extra things that you perhaps wouldn't need to do for others. This can include helping to get things out a bag, pushing their wheelchair (if it's not electric), ensuring that where you are going out is accessible, scheduling in a few more coffee stops for rests. CP can also cause disorders that trigger seizures, for example Epilepsy. Knowing the signs of a seizure and what to do if one occurs can be helpful. For example, in the majority of cases, a person with Epilepsy is able to get up after having a seizure and carry on with their day, not all seizures require an ambulance. Although it might sound concerning the thought of a friend dropping to the floor, most people with Epilepsy can tell when they are about to have a seizure. Knowing what is normal for your friend and what to do if this occurs is the best way to ensure that you are confident going out and that you have the best possible time.  It is important to realise though that I have never found these adaptations to be any kind of a hinderance, it's just a case of being flexible, never has this prevented me from having a great time.

With CP you also learn that the smallest of things can be the biggest of achievements. Being seizure free for a number of consecutive days can be like the satisfaction of running a marathon. Remaining on two legs for a week (or remaining on four wheels in our case!) without unexpected meetings with the floor can be a huge success. They make you realise the important things in life.

The biggest respect I have for my friends with CP and the aspect that I love about them the most is the way that they are able to bring light to their disability through jokes. There's the jokes about the upsides of having a disability: When going to a concert you can guarantee the best seats and the most space, sitting up on a platform with huge amounts of space whilst looking down at everyone else who are barely able to move as it is so cramped, makes you feel like royalty. When visiting the theatre we have been greeted a number of times at the door by our own personal assistant for the evening, escorting us to our seats and bringing us our food and any merchandise meaning queuing is never an issue. Being the friend of someone with CP guarantees you a free carer ticket to the cinema, ice skating, theatre etc etc, halving the price  taken down of a trip out! Queuing at concerts is never a factor, as soon as you arrive you are straight into your seats, no endless waiting outside in the cold. The list goes on and on.

Then, there are the jokes about the encounters with ignorant people. There is always an encounter with some misinformed individual which can be extremely irritating, However, the laugh we have as a result of it makes it bearable. For example the random greetings from complete strangers, people saying hello just because the person is using a wheelchair. The guy at the cinema who assumed that because my friend was in a wheelchair that she would want a children's food box, we were seventeen! The passer by who assumed that my friend lived in a children's home because they used a wheelchair. The person in the shop who talked to my friend like a total idiot assuming that she was unable to talk at all because she was sat down! The way that my friends with CP are able to deal with these uneducated people in such a positive and humorous way is why I admire them the most.

My biggest message to everyone out there is that being friends with people who have disabilities is one of the biggest things that I am most pleased about. Without them I would not be who I am today and I strongly believe I would not have got where I am. They have made me appreciate so many aspects of life. Cerebral palsy is special, it creates amazing people and awesome friendships.

Thank you for reading,

Kate :)'

An old Facebook post of mine

Hello my lovely readers!

I thought I would share something with you, this is a Facebook post that a wrote about a year ago to try and express my thoughts and feelings about how some able-bodied people saw me and others with disabilities and to try and get those individuals to think differently next time. Here it is....

'I love how I never used to feel different, disabled or less able than others. People used to accept me just the way I was and didn't care about the way I looked. But now people are so judgemental about disability. People are worried about what their friends will say if they spend time with the 'disabled girl'. People do not want to be seen with me. Everybody has imperfections, I just think that people should get over what's on the outside and be friends with the person within... the body instead of just going by looks. I didn't decide to be disabled, it just happened. My body is like anyone else's, there is nothing wrong with my legs. They are completely normal. There is just a tiny bit of damage to my brain which means that it doesn't send signals to my muscles correctly causing me to look slightly 'different'. I wasn't even born disabled. It happened in the first few days of my life because I was born at 29 weeks and my brain couldn't cope. What a lot of people don't realise is my cerebral palsy affects everything I do from walking to writing and eating to sleeping. My disability affects my hands as well as my legs, this is why you will see my hands in fists when I'm tired. I've had to learn to accept that I'll always be disabled and that there is no cure or treatment which will change that. I am happy with who I am so why can't you be? I'm in pain 24/7, I fall a lot which is really scary for me because I can't stop it. It takes so much effort for me to walk even 10 steps. I have had to cope with all this and I don't want to have to endure people being horrible as well. Please can you be more considerate and see the person instead of the disability. Thank you :)'

I still completely believe in those words I wrote so long ago, everything I said then still applies now.

Thank you for reading and I hope you are having a good day.
Evie :) x

Common Stereotypes Surrounding Disability

Hello again,

In this post I thought I'd address the topic of common stereotypes that people with disabilities face. The reason I have decided to write about this topic is because many of the stereotypes surrounding disabilities are pure myths and have no truth to them at all therefore I would like help people understand what is it really like being a disabled person, instead of you just going on our stereotypes which are mainly very untruthful and old-fashioned.

A stereotype by definition is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. For example, a stereotypical girl would like pink, have long hair and play with dolls and fairies. Common stereotypes surrounding disability include the inability to have a good quality of life, incapability and being introverted.

Many people who happen to have a disability live a very full and independent life. Yes, we may face struggles when trying to use public transport or getting into non-accessible buildings but those struggles, although sometimes extremely irritating, will make us stronger as a person. And yes, many people with additional needs will need support and specialised equipment to enable them to have a good quality of life but we do enjoy our lives, whether we manage to travel the world or just go out regularly into our local town, the majority of us will be able to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Because there are so many different types of disability, it is a difficult to tell how capable people with disabilities really are because it varies so much depending on the type of disability and the severity of the disability. For example, people with Cerebral Palsy, like myself, have different capabilities depending on the type of CP and how it affects you in your everyday life. For me, as I have a relatively mild form of CP, I see myself nearly as capable as an able bodied person however there is still a high risk of falling and with my new Epilepsy diagnosis, at the moment it is hard to go anywhere independently or with friends. If you have a severer form of CP then you may need the help of a carer or similar when performing tasks and going out and about. So you get the idea, everyone with a disability is unique, no two cases are the same therefore everyone has different capabilities, but please DO NOT assume that everyone with a disability is incapable because we just aren't, we have different capabilities but that does not mean in anyway that we are incapable.

The last common stereotype that I am going to address in this post is that all people with disabilities are introverted and reserved. I believe that this is one of the most important stereotypes that needs to be addressed and understood correctly. Yes, it is true that I am shy around new people and don't always immediately start up a conversation. Yet, I am a very loud and bubbly person once you get to know me. Therefore, yes I am probably more shy when I first meet people than I would be if I didn't have a disability but I am definitely not introverted. I really love going out and meeting friends but unfortunately, because of my disability, even if I ask twenty people to meet up nearly all of them will say they can't and I believe the majority of them don't want to spend time with me because of my disability. Whether it is because they feel nervous in case I fall or have a seizure, which I completely understand, or maybe it's because they don't want to be seen around a 'disabled' person. The fact is that many disabled people want to go out but because many able-bodied people are inconsiderate and don't realise that we are just the same as everyone else, yes we may face different struggles but at the end of the day, WE ARE THE SAME AND WANT TO JUST BE ACCEPTED INTO SOCIETY. Another reason it is hard for people with a disability to access opportunities that are open to able bodied people is accessibility to buildings, theme parks, hotels etc. I believe that everywhere should be made accessible to EVERYONE. Many places are just not accessible whether it is because they don't have accessible toilets or because they have stairs but no lift. This is just unfair and means that simply we can't go to as many places as we want and should be allowed to go.

Thank you for reading and I hope I have changed some views about disability.

Evie :) x 

Seizure recovery

Hello!

Today I thought I would let you know what I do personally to recover from a seizure big or small. After any seizure it takes a certain amount of time to recover whether it's 5 minutes or 3 days. Sometimes it can take weeks to recover completely from large cluster seizures.
Usually, after a seizure I am confused and drowsy therefore my parents help me up to bed, my walking is often very affected after a seizure, and I tend to sleep for an hour or two. When, I have absence seizures or myoclonic jerks I can continue with whatever task I was doing before the seizure occurred.
After a 'larger' seizure, my CP becomes more visible for the days or even the weeks afterwards. When I say more visible, I mean I may drag my feet more and I will generally have more spasticity therefore my arms and hands may be more affected than they usually are. When this happens, I struggle writing even a single sentence, I get tired very easily and I have to really concentrate in order to make my feet clear the floor.
What I am trying to say is after a seizure you need to take time to recover and recuperate. Give yourself some TLC. If you rush back into normal, busy everyday life then you will probably end up pushing yourself too hard which will result in an increase in seizures, then you'll be back to square one. So just rest and take all the time you need to feel better and get back to the usual you!

I realise most of my blog posts are based around my own medical experiences and are probably relatively boring half the time! Therefore, if you have any ideas for future posts then please do get in touch:
Email~ livingwithcerebralpalsyevie@outlook.com
Facebook Messenger- Eve Osborne
Instagram Direct Message~ @livingwithcerebralpalsyevie
Or if you're on a PC or laptop then over to your right you will see a contact form where you can leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP!

Any feedback about my posts or blog in general will also be gratefully appreciated!

Evie :) x

Ten top tips for a relaxing school night!

Hello,
I tend to start to wind down relatively early in order to have relaxed and stress free week day evening. Here are my top tips:

1. Lay your clothes/school uniform out the night before, this saves a lot of hassle in the morning, you won't have to go through your drawers and spend hours deciding what to wear!

2. Cleanse your face and brush your teeth early before you get too tired: this is especially important for people who get tired easily like my fellow Cerebral Palsy readers.

3. Tidy your room before you go to sleep, for me personally I find it nice to go to sleep in a tidy room. I also find the process of tidying very therapeutic.

4. Light a candle or listen to relaxing music, both of these are very calming.

5. Do mindfulness. Whether this is colouring, simple yoga or focusing on your breathing for a minute or two, this is a very good way just to relieve the stresses of the day and have a period of peace and reflection.

6. Turn off your phone for a while before you go to sleep, have a break from social media and just focus on you for a moment or two.

7. Don't stress about school or the homework you haven't done just try to let everything go and have a peaceful night sleep with no worries.

8. Read or listen to an audiobook before you go to sleep, this allows you to live another life even if it is just for half an hour, it allows you to forget any worries you may have and just enjoy a story.

9. Don't go to bed too late, try and let your thoughts go and just close your eyes and drift off.

10. Sleep with one pillow and shift down in your bed so you are lying completing flat, I have found this so much more comfy and I feel I have better night rest when I do this.

So there you go, my ten top tips for a good nights rest and a relaxing weekday evening. I hope you have enjoyed reading this and if any of my advice has helped you please do let me know. As I keep saying, I would love some feedback about my posts and blog so don't be afraid to email, Facebook message or just fill in the contact form to your right, if you are using a mobile device scroll down to the bottom of the page and click view web version. Once again thank you for reading and I look forward to hopefully hearing from a few of you soon!

Evie :) xx

This world is amazing! A post about positive thinking.

Hello!

Today I thought I'd write about all the positives in life and why this world is so amazing.

I have been having a very up and down couple of months and I do get really frustrated sometimes. I don't understand why I have been given this particular life, why I have brain damage and why I can't  just  be like everyone else. However, I have periods where I feel really positive and realise that my disability and struggles have made me me! Although it can be tough sometimes, I have a lovely family supporting me, a beautiful bedroom which I have made my own, amazing friends who do not care about my disability but just accept me for who I am and love me for that and I am so lucky to have them. THANK YOU. Moreover, we are all so lucky to have this absolutely incredible world that is just waiting to be explored.
So, I know I may sound very cliché but the message I am trying to convey is that even though we have struggles in our lives that may feel unbearable at the time, we can overcome them and move on to enjoy the world with all its beauty.
For example, at the moment I am not able to do some of things that I would love to be doing because of my seizures not being under control. I am not able to explore our world how I would like but this is just a bump in the road, there will be much brighter times to come. In a few months I hope I'll be able to achieve small goals that mean so much to me such as going to school full time, meeting up with friends independently and to be able to go swimming! These may not seem that important or critical for happiness but for me this is all I want to do, I just want to get some of my life back!
When I am older, I want to travel and explore this beautiful world we live in and maybe this won't be possible but it is important to stay positive and just have hope.

I am lucky and yes at the moment it may be hard to realise this but I will get through this and I'll be stronger and more resilient because of it.

Thank you for reading and I hope you can take a moment to think positively and just love life!

Evie :) xx 

Epilepsy

Hello everyone!


Today I thought I'd write about my Epilepsy.


I was diagnosed with Epilepsy on 2nd December 2016 after having seizures since May 2016. I have been diagnosed with myoclonic jerks, absence seizures, epileptic spasms and secondary generalised seizures. When I was diagnosed, my doctor said there was pretty much no doubt about it, I have Epilepsy. However, now they cannot seem to make their minds up whether it is all epileptic or not therefore I am obviously quite frustrated.
I am on AEDs (anti-epileptic drugs). I take Keppra (1000mg) twice daily. I also take Clonazepam (1.5mg) at night. On top on my Baclofen which I have been on for years (80mg per day) and painkillers (Codeine or Paracetamol), I take on average 25 pills a day and I am fifteen! So all the AEDs have side effects, basically 50% of the time I am quite out of it and the other 50% I am just really tired! I also cannot seem to concentrate very well or recall memories (maths lessons are a total nightmare!).
So, you get the idea. These few months have probably been some of toughest I have had in my lifetime. I have seizures most days and to be honest I am so tired I feel like I need to sleep for a day after each one of them so not only are the drugs making me tired so are the seizures. Basically, I am like a toddler, if I don't have a nap then I cannot function.
These seizures are also really disruptive and to be honest painful (I have never had bruises like seizure related ones!). I just really hope the doctors, my family and I can find a way to stop my brain from constantly miss behaving!
If you didn't know, because of my CP, I am 40% more likely to have Epilepsy as I have a small bit of brain damage and in my case, this brain damage is causing seizures.
To anyone in my classes or my friends at school, this is the reason I haven't been able to come in very much recently and if you see me leaving the room in a quick manner then it is probably because I have had a warning sign that I am about to have a seizure and need to get out of the classroom and into the corridor or similar and get down on the floor. To all my friends, thank you for bearing with me, supporting me and generally being there for me, I REALLY appreciate it so THANK YOU.


So this is it, all about my Epilepsy!
If you have any questions or things you would like to let me know then please fill in the contact form to your right or drop me an email: livingwithcerebralpalsyevie@outlook.com  
I'd love to hear from you! :)


Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you are having a great day.


Evie :) xx

Get to know me Q&A

Hey guys!
I thought it might be might nice for me to tell you a bit more about myself therefore I am doing a get to know me Q&A. These are some random questions that I found on the internet that I will answer and by the time you have finished reading this post, you will hopefully know more about me and who I am as a person so here we go!

• What is your middle name?

My middle name is Stella!

• What is your favorite colour?

Dark Purple!

• Who was your first best friend?

This is a difficult one but I have to say my first proper best friend was Ruth!

• How tall are you?

I am between 5ft4in and 5ft5in

• Cats or Dogs?

I have both but I have to say dogs!

• Funniest moment throughout School?

There have been lots but probably one of the funniest moments was our leavers bash in Year 8 where we all dressed up and had loads of fun!

• How many countries have you visited?

I think eight! I have been to Mallorca, Lanzarote, Egypt, Wales, Scotland, France, Belgium and Holland. I think that is it!

• Are you in/gone to college?

I'm planning too. Well, Sixth Form but same kinda thing!

• What was your favorite/worst subject in High School?

Well, I'm still in upper school so I'd say my favourite subject has to be Geography

• What is your Favourite drink?

Diet Coke!

• What is your favourite animal?

Fish! Tropical!

• What is your favourite perfume?

Any Clarins perfume.

• Tea or Coffee?

Tea although I don't really drink it very often!

• What would you (or have you) name your children?

I haven't really thought about it to be honest.

• What Sports do you play/Have you played?

I have previously done wheelchair basketball and running.

• What is your favorite book?

Me Before You

• Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?

Louise Glover, Zoella, Freddy My Love, Wheely Wacky Adventures

• What is your favorite movie?

Me Before You

• Are you Single or Taken?

Single.

• Whats your idea of an ideal first date?

I haven't really given it much thought, as long as the guy is nice I'm happy!

• How many Girlfriends/Boyfriends have you had?

Lots of short term relationships and by that I mean a few days with about five guys in middle school!

• Favourite memory from childhood?

Being with family in general and having a lovely time!

• Do you speak any different languages and how well?

A little French and Spanish

• Do you have any siblings?

Yes! I have an older sister who is 17 and called Grace.

• How would you describe your fashion sense?

Pretty and I hope stylish!

• What is your favorite restaurant?

Pizza Express

• What are some of your favourite TV shows?

~Pretty Little Liars

~Casualty

• PC or mac?

Mac

• What phone do you have? (iOS v Android?)

iPhone 6s and love it to bits!

• Tell us one of your bad habits!

Going to bed too early!

So there you go! 30 things that you may not have known about me, I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a bit better and please leave a comment or contact me with any ideas for future posts because at the moment I have a mild case of writers block therefore any input you may have would be gratefully appreciated!

Thank you!

Evie :) x