By: Saar Genevive D. Udasco

Have you ever wondered how life can be easy? How life can be hard also? Well, I’ve been through these stages of life. I usually thought of my life as a hard one. I wasn’t even thinking of other aspects or find ways that would make my life easier than anyone else. But sadly, I am just like anyone else… I usually end up getting pessimistic.

People today are actually more exposed to negative influences in life; the ability to stay positive is critical not knowing that there’s an answer to solve these so-called “unending” hardships in our lives.

The solution is to have faith in God. That’s it. Simple as that. Before I never really believed that God is the answer to my problems, but when I started believing in His powers, my life started to change. I didn’t believe it could really change by just putting your trust on God. Believing in Him solved my problems. Sometimes, I can’t explain these events and just think of them as God’s grace.

There were instances that God answered my prayers when I had this very big problem in school. I was almost depressed. Still, I realized that things are easier if you’re going to ask God’s grace. So I prayed to God. After a week or two, my problem was solved, and I never forget to thank God with what he has blessed me, and asked for His forgiveness of all my wrongdoings. I believe that if you walk and abide by Him, then you will surely be on the right path.

One tip that I can offer is that you must always remember that you must fight in circumstances that you must face in. In every battle, you would always have an opportunity for a victory. And also, stay humble. Be humble and do things that would please Him. Surely, you’ll be surprised how He can do things in an easy way and turn your life around in a positive light.

Last monday afternoon, I was in a hurry going to Graphic All-in Store when at the street of Agudo Road a mother carrying a baby with her other son ride on with the Motorela I was in. I was seated at the corner and the mom was infront of me carrying her baby. I was busy texting my friend Elva when the mom removed the cloth that covered the baby’s head. I was at then shocked but i didn’t show it to the mom because I don’t want to offend her! I know you are wondering why I was shocked but the baby’s face and head were deformed. I asked the mom “Mam, what happened to your baby?” She then replied, “She have Cerebral Palsy.” Seeing the baby was really frightening because of her face so much deformed, it was like seeing a monster on a movie. But I never showed my feelings towards her, instead I sympathized on the mom and the baby’s condition. I was asking the mom many things about the baby and all. And I also learned that they are poor, well it was actually obvious when you see how they are in person! I reached for the baby’s legs and caressed it and I saw a smile on the baby’s deformed face. At that time I was able to realize that I was so blessed that I am not like her (the baby) because if I would have been that baby I dont think I would have life at all! Things are for sure difficult for the family of that baby, especially that they have to go to the hospital once in a while for such check-ups and medications. I was really sad to see how the baby was and felt too bad about it! When I had to go I handed the mommy a little amount for additional funds for fares and stuff! I was happy to help in a little way and I’m sure if I were you, you would also feel the same way I did!

And more about the disease here’s what I got:

Many children with cerebral palsy have a congenital malformation of the brain, meaning that the malformation existed at birth and was not caused by factors occurring during the birthing process. Not all of these malformations can be seen by the physician, even with today’s most sophisticated scans, but when CP is recognized in a newborn, a congenital malformation is suspected. When a diagnosis of CP is made, the mother and father often feel guilty and wonder what they did to cause their child to have this disorder. While it is certainly true that good prenatal care is an essential part of preventing congenital problems, it must be stated that congenital problems, or “birth defects,” often occur even when the mother has strictly followed her physician’s advice in caring for herself and the developing infant. Though the causes of “birth defects” are usually unknown, we do know that the developing brain can be affected by several factors. When the fetus is exposed to certain chemicals or infections through the expectant mother, for example. The developing brain can be injured if the expectant

mother suffers severe physical trauma, the fetal brain can be injured, too, but this is rare. Finally, prematurity and a low birth weight have been shown to be related to an increased incidence of specific disorders. Many chemicals are known to adversely affect the developing brain, alcohol being the most commonly used. The term Fetal Alcohol Syndrome describes the long-term, multi-system effect of alcohol on a child whose mother abused alcohol during the pregnancy. When a fetus is exposed to large amounts of alcohol, several body systems, including the neurological system will almost certainly suffer damage. Cigarette smoking by the mother has been shown to decrease birth weight, and low birth weight is associated with several disorders, including cerebral palsy. Severe malnutrition in the mother can adversely affect brain growth in the fetus, and it, too, can result in a low birth weight. The use of cocaine or crack by the expectant mother is associated with blood vessel complications, and these complications affect many organs as well as the central nervous system. Cocaine use is increasing and thus becoming more prevalent as cause of brain damage in infants. Most infants whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy develop mental retardation rather than cerebral palsy, however. Infections such as rubella (German measles), toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus (CMV), ( if a woman has them during pregnancy), also may injure the brain of the fetus. Rubella can be prevented by immunization, prior to becoming pregnant, and the chances of becoming infected with toxoplasmosis can be minimized by not handling the feces of cats and by avoiding raw or uncooked meat.

Congenital infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS) also causes brain damage in children, though it usually causes mental retardation rather than CP. It is likely that many other infections in the expectant mother injure the developing fetus, but they are not recognized as causative factors because the woman who has the infection either does not recognize the symptoms of infection or is symptom-free. Premature infants are at a much higher risk for developing cerebral palsy than full-term babies, and the risk increases as the birth weight decreases. Between 5 and 8 percent of infants weighing less than 1500 grams (3 pounds) at birth develop cerebral palsy, and infants weighing less than 1500 grams are 25 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than infants who are born at full term weighing more than 2500 grams.

any premature infants suffer bleeding within the brain, called intraventricular hemorrhages, intracranial hemorrhages. Again, the highest frequency of hemorrhages is found in the babies with the lowest weight: the problem is rare in babies who weigh more than 2000 grams (4 pounds). This bleeding may damage the part of the brain that controls motor function and thereby lead to cerebral palsy. If the hemorrhage results in destruction of normal brain tissue (a condition called periventricular leukomalacia) and small cysts around the ventricles and in the motor region of the brain, then that infant is more likely to have CP than an infant with hemorrhages alone. Does prematurity “cause” cerebral palsy, or do some infants who are born prematurely have abnormal brains from the beginning, leading to their premature births? We do not know the answer to this question. (article taken from http://gait.aidi.udel.edu/res695/homepage/pd_ortho/clinics/c_palsy/cpweb.htm#RTFToC3)

I hope that you will also help in little ways for these people!