The 10th of July 2008 was a memorable day for Lily and her husband Dave, that was when Lily became a mother after giving birth to Recee, a healthy baby girl.
Recee grew up normally like all other babies, she would grimace and smile as she sees her mom and dad, cries when her diaper is full and at 7 months utters her first word "momma." She's a bundle of joy, her milestone is a delight for her parents.
Two months before baby Recee's 1st birthday, she got sick with measles and got hospitalized because of high fever, since that day Recee already shows some weakness of her left limbs, and she can no longer manage to crawl or creep or assume kneeling and standing in the crib. Mommy Lily consulted a neurologist and found out that baby Recee got Cerebral Palsy due to measles. It was a terrible and the most shocking news for Lily and Dave. Its frightening how a simple fever as they thought could paralyzed baby Recee.
Recee"s treatment began with Physical Therapy, her parents were both very supportive. Though sometimes there were weeks that they can't afford Recee"s treatment session, but Mommy Lily would still make sure that she could perform home exercise program for baby Recee as instructed by her therapist. A couple of years of perseverance with the treatment baby can now able to stand by herself and at 3 she finally took her first step, she was that delayed functionally but none of that matters for mommy and daddy, they were all in tears watching baby Recee walked for the first time.
A couple years more, Recee should be starting kindergarten. Mommy Lily thought that Recee should be in a Special Education class for disabled children, but turns out a plight for Recee. Every morning that she goes to school, Recee would throw a fit, she cried as if something was torturing her. After a week of struggle going to school, the school teacher had finally sorted out that Recee might have been so scared from the condition of her classmates. In the class, there were kids with severe cerebral palsy tormented with rigidity, some movement disorders like athetosis. It was a bit bizarre for Recee who only had very minimal manifestation of the disease.
The school directress recommended Lily and Dave to try send Recee to a regular school just like normal kids. No joke. Recee was officially accepted and enrolled, with all the warnth and lively atmosphere, playful kids that sorrounded her for the first time, she got startled again on her first day. She cried hugging her mommy, but when the teacher settled all kids back to their seats. Recee calmed down, recollecting her attention to the class. The first day was a success, and that with her mommy beside her.
It was almost a year mommy Lily would sit with her daughter in class, but all good cause Recee got finally a hang of it. On her 1st grade, she can attend school with mommy outside the classroom in the hallway. Eventually, Recee as 2nd grader would allow her mommy to leave her in school. She can join some kids play, but mom couldn't go home thinking Recee might get hurt or bullied.
By and by, Recee slowly copes up with the usual student life, She is now a 6th grader, doing online and modular classes because of the pandemic. I can see her now trying some moves with the TikTok app with her very encouraging cousins. You bet, she's a good dancer. Her caring grandparents are all rooting for her step by step and little by little strides into becoming a teenager. But for mommy Lily and daddy Dave, she will always be their little girl, supporting her in every step of the way.
P.S. This is a real life story, narrated by her Physical Therapist and at the same time the author of this article. Real names are hidden for privacy.
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