October 5, 2016 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Cerebral Palsy or (CP) affects people in many ways including body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture, and balance. The effect of the disability ranges from mild to severe. According to cerebralpalsy.org, about two to three children out of every 1,000 have cerebral palsy, and about 10,000 babies born each year will develop cerebral palsy. Although there is no cure for the disability, treatment is available to help reduce the risk and severity for people with the condition.

Treatment

Medication may be prescribed for patients with movement issues. Some medications can be taken by mouth, others have to be taken or injected via surgically implanted pumps.

Some people with cerebral palsy may have difficulty communicating, so a speech pathologist may be needed to help them communicate better.

Common misconceptions about people with CP

According to mychildwithoutlimits.org, many parents feel like their child future is limited because they have cerebral palsy. Many children with CP live normal lives although they have the have the condition.

Justin Gallegos was a track runner with CP for Hart High school who had dreams of attending the University of Oregon since his freshman year in high school. Gallegos was accepted into the University but was unable to attend because the out-of-state tuition is too high.

If he was able to attend the University of Oregon, he would plan to study Human Physiology to one day become an athletic trainer and work with other disabled athletes. The University of Oregon has an excellent running club team that I plan on training with, in the pursuit of one day becoming a U.S. Paralympian.

A GoFundMe account was created to help Justin pursue his dreams of attending the university.

According to an ESPN article written by Doug Williams, Justin wanted to do something athletic and be part of a team in high school. He thought about going out for football as a freshman, but his father, Brent, counseled him to try cross country.

“I don't like to discourage him or tell him things that he can't do," says Brent. "I was just reluctant obviously (and said), 'As your father I'm concerned you're going to get hurt.'"

So the two talked to Darren James and fellow cross country coach Larry David. Brent told them Justin had done a lot of work on the treadmill and assured them his son could run the three miles required in a cross-country race, and that he would work hard. Both coaches encouraged Justin to come out.

Justin’s father told ESPN that Justin would get discouraged early on in his track career because he would finish last or falling, but he would continue to persevere. Gallegos would fall so much that his father Brent bought him knee pads to cushion his falls.

“Running for me is all about embracing it and having a good time being around my teammates and getting the knowledge I need to become a better athlete from my coaches,” Justin Gallegos said.

“No Such Thing As A Disability”

"Being a runner with CP doesn’t stop me. It's about the sweat, time, blood, and tears that goes into the training and the hours on the track and out on the trails and roads that lead to that point of the gun going off."