What do you see?

What is the first thing you see?  Is it his disability? His huge brown eyes?  The huge smile when he focuses on you?  His rooster’s comb (wild hair)? His excitement when he sees you?

It’s all of the above.    

No matter which one it is, it’s what makes up Graham.  He is the whole package.

CP is caused by a brain injury, and it doesn’t worsen over time like some other diseases or afflictions.  As you grow older, effects on the body change, but it doesn’t worsen.  Not every person that has CP has the same issues.  Some may have only 1 side affected, some (like Graham) have all 4 limbs that are affective.  Some have mobility, eating/speech, muscle tone and developmental issues: Graham has all these.

That’s why treatments like therapies (PT, OT, Speech) and medications are so important.  It can improve his quality of life.  

How then do you ask, can Graham be so happy?  Why not?  Graham only knows what is around him and doesn’t really know any difference.  He is protected by the people that love and care for him.  People around him make him happy and do silly things to make him laugh.  Everyone who meets him always smiles and talks to him.  That is really nice to see.  Goes to show you what a simple smile can do. Just watch how Graham lights up.

No one really knows what Graham can understand, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know what’s going on or being said.  Only his limitations keep him from letting us know.  

Romans 8:28 states, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," affirming that you are not a mistake but part of a greater plan.