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Bernadette was born with Cerebral Palsy and was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic. The doctors who assessed Bernadette told the family that she would never be able to walk, attend an ordinary school or have a decent quality of life. Her parents were told that they would be unable to look after her and it would be best to place her in a centre and forget that they ever had a daughter. Mind you, this was many years ago and things have certainly changed a lot since then. But this was the gloomy picture presented to her parents.
Luckily Bernadette’s parents heard of Neuro-Developmental Therapy Programs and had begun the program by the time she turned three. Her parents were confident that their daughter possessed much more potential than what the experts were expecting, and they were determined to do everything possible to help their daughter.
Bernadette and her family undertook this program on an intensive basis assisted by a committed group of volunteers, and continued for many years. She showed amazing improvement during this time. She learnt how to sit, crawl on her hands and knees, and stand independently. By the time of her ninth birthday, Bernadette was able to walk with the aid of Canadian crutches.
Despite her physical problems, Bernadette was highly intelligent, and she completed year one of school by correspondence, then gradually built up full time school attendance whilst maintaining commitment to the program. She went onto University, and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Public Relations.
Bernadette now lives an “ordinary” life. She works full time as an Advocate and lives independently and enjoys life to its fullest.
Bernadette maintains: “Had my parents not undertaken the Neuro-Developmental Therapy Program with me from an early age, my life may have turned out much the way the doctors had predicted. We have no doubt that it was the repetitive intensity of my program’s activities that got me mobile as I have fortunate enough to be.
“It is far from easy – it can be a difficult, unimaginable lifestyle, especially for a young child. It took guts, determination and fidelity and for a very long time – not only ours, but on the part of the many volunteers and friends who assisted me along the way. But looking back on all that, with (hopefully!) the greater insight of an adult…. Look where I am now!! I have been able to travel, learn, love – live. For that, I’d do it all over again in a second.
“Please – give your child that chance!”
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