It’s here again—the dreaded flu season. Although we take precautions during this time, it is crucial for those who have disabilities or parents who have children with special needs to take extra measures to prevent illness. Something so little as a cold can lead to far-reaching consequences for someone who has physical limitations.
As a person who has Cerebral Palsy, which causes me to have a compromised immune system, I know the importance of maintaining my overall health. Now, as I grow older, I realize that it is vital to take care of myself and to help to direct others to ensure that I stay as healthy as I possibly can.
As a young child, I was in good health. My grandmother was a nurse and seemed to innately know how to handle my disability and all that came with it. I went to the pediatrician regularly and in spite of a cold now and again, I had no medical issues.
My Gram, of course, knew how important diet was, as well as regular exercise. She tried to instill in me how vital it was to always eat a well-balanced meal and keep up with my exercises. Unfortunately, vegetables were not my favorite things to eat, to say it mildly. Gram found creative ways to prepare them, and with a little coaxing, I’d eat them.
Throughout my life, the level of fatigue I have experienced has been an issue for me. It continues to be even in my late thirties. I have always seemed to tire easily because of my continuous contracting muscles and the energy it takes me to complete certain tasks. When I was younger, this was a source of frustration for me, but as I grew older, I learned to accept it
When I was a student at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina in my early twenties, my body began to change. I started getting colds more frequently, and it took me much longer to recover. The combination of long hours completing homework and poor personal care seemed to take its toll on me. To add to that, I was increasingly unhappy in my environment because of the personal care I was receiving.
During a particularly gruesome cold, my morale flagged and I ended up coming home for good. After recovering, I realized that my health was somewhat fragile and I needed to make more of an effort to take care of myself. In addition to counseling, I began a vitamin regimen, which seemed to increase my overall well-being, and which I follow to this day.
After a year, I decided to plunge back into the world of academics at Messiah College. I was aware, though, that I had to keep up with my vitamins and maintain a positive outlook on life. Although I had an occasional cold now and then, my health seemed to stabilize and I had the ability to complete my course work and graduate.
Since graduation, I do everything I know how to do to stay healthy. I certainly do not push myself as hard as I did in college, and that approach seems to work. I apply the “tortoise and the hare” strategy to my life and that seems to be the winning combination for me to succeed.
-Hope Johnson
