Caused when a child's brain does not develop properly in the womb or when it is damaged during or soon after the child is born, cerebral palsy (CP) is the name given to a group of conditions that affect coordination and movement. CP affects an estimated 1 in every 400 children in the UK.
In this edition of the Jobskin® blog, we share with you some of the most uplifting and inspirational news stories about people and families living with CP.
Emily Nicole Roberts: YouTube Star
Emily Nicole Roberts, 24, has a type of CP known as 'spastic quadriplegia', which affects all four of her limbs and renders her unable to walk. When she was growing up, she felt that she had no relatable role models and so, four years ago, she decided to become a role model herself. At the age of 20, she started up her own YouTube channel, creating a series of videos in which she shows herself carrying out everyday tasks such as getting into bed or getting out of her vehicle.
An instant hit, Emily's YouTube channel became extremely popular, her funny, honest and frank videos gaining her a huge audience and catapulting her to fame. Though she continues to work as an office manager in a bridalwear shop in her hometown of Swansea, Emily also finds the time to create content for BBC Sesh and to appear as a guest presented on BBC X-Ray, a Welsh television show.
Felicity-Rose Edgar: Her Miraculous First Steps
Starved of oxygen during her birth, Felicity-Rose Edgar was diagnosed with CP and doctors said that she may never be able to walk as a result. Despite this pessimistic prognosis, the brave and resilient little girl took her first unaided steps at the age of five.
Felicity-Rose, who lives in London, surprised her mother by announcing, "look Mummy, I'm going to walk!" Matching her deeds to her words, Felicity-Rose then took her first tentative steps. Now able to confidently walk unaided, Felicity-Rose has since learned to ride a tricycle and even to dance to the Macarena!
Finnlay Walters: Boxing Champion
Also starved of oxygen during birth, seven-year-old Finnlay Walters sustained a brain injury and underwent several minutes of resuscitation to revive him. Later diagnosed with CP, Finnlay is severely disabled but he hasn't let that stop him enjoying his passion for boxing.
Finnlay discovered boxing when he attended a disability sports event and now takes part in regular sessions at Pembroke Dock ABC Club, which is part of the GB Disability Boxing organisation. The sport has helped him with many of his symptoms, improving his coordination and core strength and also providing crucial opportunities for developing social skills.
At Jobskin®, we believe that all people with CP should be empowered to reach their full potential and this empowerment hinges on the symptoms of the condition being properly managed. Made-to-measure garments from our innovative, groundbreaking SDO® (Sensory Dynamic Orthosis) collection are designed to deliver constant, consistent therapeutic pressure to enhance and optimise functional performance, improving motor skills and movement fluency.
Find out more about the SDO® garment collection from Jobskin® on our website. If you need any further information or advice, our dedicated clinical team will be happy to provide it so do not hesitate to get in touch.
