“I am Cerebral Palsy” – by Erin Gough
Christchurch teenager Erin Gough has written a poem about growing up with cerebral palsy, and it’s quite a fascinating read. I have my own thoughts on it, but have a look and let me know what you think in the comments below.
I make life difficult
I tear families apart
I do not have a cure
I break some parents’ hearts
I force kids to go through therapy
To endure a surgery or two
So that they have a chance of walking
Those strong enough to defeat me are few
I force kids to sit on the sideline
Of their brother’s soccer game
They can only dream of playing
Dreams and reality are not the same
I affect the way they catch and throw
The way they run and walk
The way their muscles work
The way they whisper and talk
I own them like I own a slave
Their soul is surely mine
They cannot break free of me
Until the time comes when they die
I hold them captive day in day out
And make them hate me so
Sometimes they wish me on others
And long with all their heart that I’d go
When they reach high school
People see me, not the person inside
Who would ask such a person out on a date?
Instead they cover their faces and hide
I come in many forms
From mild to very severe
But no matter what form I may take
I am always near
Behind closed doors, they weep
Tears of sadness and of pain
They hate that they cannot be normal
I smile smugly to myself in vain
My name is Cerebral Palsy
I am a cruel disability
And although I am not fatal
Some wish I was half-heartedly
I will my follow my victims
For as long as they shall live
I will take, and take, and take from them
Until they have nothing left to give
Eventually I will let them go
And then they will be left free
Even so, I’ll haunt them at their graves
And remind them that I am still me
My name is Cerebral Palsy
I own you, my puppet on a string
You are mine, and so’s your soul
Until you grow those angel wings…
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Hey Red,
Thanks for posting this… What are your thoughts on it? I'd really like to know.
I was worried that this poem will make me seem like a really negative, all 'doom and gloom' person, but I'm not usually, I was just having a particularly bad CP day and that's how I felt at the time.
Wooh this is intense. Real sad.
I was blowen away by this from a young person.Very sad but excellent in terms of feeling. I do not have CP but can relate this to me on bad days.
I feel I need to get this off my chest:
I don't begrudge Erin for writing this, nor do I begrudge a certain amount of artistic flair when composing a piece like this, in that she may have painted certain aspects poetically tragically. Perhaps she doesn't really believe or feel much of what is written here.
But whatever the case, the problem is that this is EXACTLY how mainstream society sees disability. That it is a 'curse', that it demolishes dreams, that it constructs a "window of pain" (see below), and publishing pieces like this only serves to perpetuate this notion of sympathy further.
When able-bodied people read this, all it's doing is reinforcing their (mis)perception of how awful it must be to have cerebral palsy. Which it's not. This woman on Facebook commented on how fantastic it was that Erin was letting people see through her "window of pain" and how she should share this with the rest of the world. NO! This isn't what people with CP experience on a daily basis, this is a piece of creative writing. And it frustrates me that this idea that disability is such a curse continues to pervade mainstream society.
We're people first and foremost, not just some gaping chasm of sympathy.
I am thankful for Erin’s honesty, her poem, her truth and her voice. There will always be a variety of thoughts and opinions, and experiences will be different for each person with cerebral palsy and shared experiences; and we all as humans go through seasons. But there is truth in the inability to move or anything that hinders life or movement. So when someone who has Cerebral Palsy or any other disability or any illness or challenge – we should out of respect and compassion honor their feelings, thoughts, expressed experience and their journey….
Thank you!
Chloe’s Mom
Kathleen
Just needed to add a missing piece -
When anyone has been hindered from being able to fully move and speak and all the other things that cerebral palsy can affect – there is pain and suffering that trail along – and can consume that person. It is healthy to express the pain and suffering from CP.
I have a 7yo daughter with CP in Aust and what Erin wrote touched me. I look at my Kate watching her brothers run and dive into the pool and move about and wonder what she is thinking/dreaming/wishing.
The grief never goes away it just cycles.
Hi Erin!
You have a beautiful heart and a gift with writing. I hope you nurture your gift more and more.
My daughter, Chloe, had SEVERE Cerebral Palsy. She passed away at the age of five. I search out poems and writings from people of all ages who have cerebral palsy, to listen, but secretly to understand my daughter whose voice was imprisoned by Cerebral Palsy.
My daughter was sweet and incredibly strong. She was Thai and Caucasian, and was absolutely beautiful! I long for the day when I can listen to her poems when heaven comes for me, but even to hear her speak and sing… I long for her voice.
I am writing my daughter’s and my story, which will be called Chloe Bloom: Carrying Chloe. I hope you will read it one day
I am also in the process of being trained as a Therapeutic Musician and advocating for people with cerebral palsy. In this process I am trying to search out the First CP Clinic in Lahore, Pakistan where there is TREATMENT for children with cerebral palsy, especially those under age five. They mostly use aculaser (soft laser).
Sincerely,
Chloe’s Mom
Kathleen
Let's see what happens if I re-write the chorus:
My name is society
I create disability
By blaming individuals
I continue to oppress indivisibly.
…or:
My name is attitude
I have the power to overcome disability
I make the difference between succeeding
And living life half-heartedly.
Well, the poem certainly raises some issues – and probably Erin feels better for getting them down on paper.
Personally, I prefer Steve Beseke’s approach, who builds up resiliency.
http://www.resiliencyfirst.com/
It’s a site worth exploring – and he is a great guy!
Absolutely brilliant, Philip.
Got any more like that?
I found this poem bloody awful!!!!!!! (Not from a poetic basis, as the author clearly has some good skills, but could you put them to better use please). I have this year become a parent to a child who is highly lightly to end up with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. I don't want to pretend that I'm fine with it all. No one welcomes disability into there life either for themselves or their loved ones. However the tragedy has to end and cannot be the dominate force of the child/person's life or their family. I can certainly relate to some themes of what has been said in the poem, we all have black moments with it all, but personally looking at them laid out in a poem is not my idea of a good time!!! If my child grow's up with this pesimistic view on life that will be a greater tradegy for me than the disability. For now he is a happy little man, who has put up with a lot in his short life but is our joy boy who comes out the end of everything smiling!!!
Well said Caroline. Couldn't agree more
I am a teenager. I have had severe bouts of depression and loneliness. I too was happy as a kid. The teenage years have been pretty much hell for me. I do not have many friends no matter how hard I try. I lack confidence and have low self-esteem. No one can be positive all the time. No one. People have said and continue to say some pretty awful things about me. Maybe I am a crazy loon, or maybe I'm just a teenage girl who has gone through some pretty rough times, but either way, I wrote the poem as a way of getting my feelings out. It does not mean I have a pessimistic view on life.
This poem is real. Although Caroline, you may see this poem as pessimistic, it doesn't mean the writer has a pessimistic view on life. One poem and a person's life view are two very separate things. A poem is just an outlet and to share it takes courage.
The notion that an individual with a disability has to be upbeat all the time is preposterous. We all have good days and we all have bad days. It is also not the responsibility of that individual to guide how others see him/her. The thought that publishing only upbeat poems will change people's views on disabilities is false notion, and if your goal is to be truthful about a disability, then it would also be counterproductive.
The fact is, people who want to really know someone and see more within that person will do just that, and those who don't, won't.
If I can make a suggestion as to how to present this, I might also include a poem about a really good day and maybe even an average day. To see the dichotomy of the days would help people get a better sense of sense of your entire outlook.
Thanks for posting this.
[...] Erin Gough has written a fantastic review of the BDO over at her blog. [...]
Hi Erin
I thought that your poem was real, obviously it meant a lot to you at the time. It was a really creative use of metaphor to express how you were feeling. I think that you have created a visual image that seperates the disability from yourself in a way, and if that helps, cool. I have CP and being a teenager with a disability was sometimes a major stress, especially when you may feel that others see you as something that is not a true reflection of how you see yourself. From my experience these feelings are, like you say, based in a moment rather than your whole life.
You seem really creative, and I hope that you keep developing your writing talents… I would love to read your poems on a good day.
I think the poem is great! I understand the points all of you are trying to make, but the reality is everybody, whether they have a disability or not, has feelings that need to be expressed. As the author said, that is not their feelings everyday, but those were real feelings on that particular day, and I commend you for being able to express them! It would be great to read a poem from you when you are having a great day, too. Keep writing!
I am 43, curse with the nightmare of CP, and I can completely relate to and respect what Erin has written beautifully.
I am many things in this middle age,– sad, disappointed, frustrated, but what I am most is angry. Why can modern medicine transplant a heart, a set of lungs, create babies in a test tube and perform miraculous feats, but those with CP are doomed to live with it? I am disgusted that braces still exist, along with brutal surgeries that hurt more than help, of the stupidity and ignorance of many, many people in the world. I'm stick of not having control over my own body, of being stared at, of feeling cheated and left out of so many experiences. In 43 years, not for one breath or thought have I ever been able to understand the horror of this burden. It is my hope that researchers will stop investing 99% of research dollars on prevention and look for a cure so that no child with this will have to grow up to be like me.
I'm lovng middle age. It's great even tho the bod's not really keeping up. I've a needle biopsy coming up next week i'm not particularily excited about, but stuff like that and helping my aged parents, has kinda put the kaibosh on my cp being that centre stage at the mo'. altho' reciting Erin's poem might help me keep still when bod meets needle soon!
life's too short to even worry about neurotic sympathizers. a public eradication plan will just keep letting more mutate…
er, that is, i wish i would shutup. Erin could ask Hetfield if Metallica need a new lyricist, coz they're sounding damn too middle aged too.
"Why can't she ever keep her tits still?", I suggest could be another song…
In all seriousness, I really do struggle to describe how some of these comments are making me feel here. I mean I'm happy to put the poem down to teenaged angst, and with anything beyond that that the poet is worried about, I'd like to see her eased through it. The parents have one hell of a load upon their shoulders too, and I guess in their position there'd be a part deep down that would be scared shitless for the future – I'm sure I don't need to tell them, how that fear, in turn, has to be managed in a way that won't impact heavily upon their child. Parents are allowed to have bad hairdays too! I tried to butt out, but just wanted to add some variation around the middle-aged one – I have friends that feel the same way, and I've found it immensely difficult to be there for them. I just feel a showoff smart ass with whatever the f''k I end up saying – and that just seems to hurt myself, immeasurably. Maybe, our society just compares too much. Mel said it just so much better, I think, but the thing that strikes me the most here, is the reminder of the pressure I used to feel about tryna be such a good crip representative. PAH! TO HELL WITH THAT!!!!!!! I think to see the variation that comes through here is far more realistic, grants more respect to each other, and in itself, demonstrates it's worth. I don't think my cp is a curse, but am more concerned for the personal wellbeing of those that do than worrying about anything we care to deem as coming from the abstract mainstream. I can be as silly and fickle enough, without such added noise to take to heart, thanks.
k
… and so I've heard others say that once "mainstream" changes, everyone will be helped. I'd suggest that 'mainstream' and 'community' are just abstract moving targets used waaaaay over what the words could reasonably connotate. I know so many people using such words in a way to describe how they feel they don't belong – and no matter who you are or they are, they seem absolutely sure that you must feel a certain way, in the name of whatever their heads are orientated around as to whether you "belong" or not. I don't want to hurt them by objecting, they have seemed just soooooooo delicate. It all seems some strange psych phenomenon to me, and I hope people somehow suss it all out so that when the nonetheless very real feeling of not belonging kicks in, it can somehow be overridden more often than it seems to be in much of NZ. Changes can still come about, I'm sure, but I know that I can't bloody concentrate on whatever the hell I'm doing when there is a political bombardment of all sorts filling my head on what's been sanctioned by others about what's fair, and what I should be accepting or not! I certainly don't end up a good advertisement that way. More like a wreck. Still, I thank everyone for being very patient with all my writing here. I've never been able to allude to all this amongst personal friends without receiving a very, very heavy blast of virtuol back, when I actually still have trouble escaping how much we were all just mutually trying to reach out. I wish I was seen by many in my past, in that light. It still haunts me to the day, and maybe I just should not pass on such personal upset. it is far far far worse for me to have those memories, than cp.
k
it was when they cried out for understanding, but just yelled the f**k out of me when i tried to get near, that i think just sends me around & around tryna process it all. i dont blame anyone for thinking i'm nuts anymore. i wish differing views werent taken as threats but as offers of just insight into one another's world in order to share it a bit more. i realise i am not advancing my case by going on incessantly.
i didnt say how it's great initially to be flattered, almost, by the more politically astute, telling me how awful and unfair everything is, and i sort of didnt say above how it's from that that the idea of 'not belonging' is tapped into from childhood again. well, i guess if i got around days and days and months and months on end from crying as a kid, and whenever I've held twinges of similar pain at bay as an adult, i should bloody wakeup to myself now and resist from those who think my life's been so easy that they have seemed to feel ok about letting me go thru more. once i got to know some of those in advocacy personally, often i'd be yelled at for not knowing how much they've suffered, and then yelled at when i tried to be of some comfort and support, and yelled at again because apparently i didnt contribute to the disabled advocacy cause. they'd also complain about not even feeling human – so, once again, i would forgive until the next round.
i think i just sound too much of a messed up madcap loon now to suggest what i've learnt, to parents and kids now. i wish i had the words.
i started to live again when i largely turned off, that's why i say middle age is great. maybe i'm not strong enough in the face of some reminders, as i thought i was, tho', and i've turned this cautionary spiel around to realise it still applies to me too, as it ever did.
(it's kinda pissing me off to have come out the other side, and then finding out that i might be facing a bit of what we've been helping my dad thru for a coupla yrs now. my trip away was lovely, so my emotions are in a bit of a spin. i'm wondering about my friends, their wounds which just were too great, and which always got between us when combined with my inadequacies too).
k
I hate hate hate how domineering i've been in my posting, and was going to say forget & wipeout what i've put above, but to be honest, i think it's not all that bad. i'm a bit uneasy with my overall manner – going to ban myself from viewing here til i get a bit of a handle of myself. however, i want to take responsibility if anything i've said causes unnecessary grief here, or needs clarifying – please email me – just google, and an address should come up. i'll come back on the public forum if needbe. this is a great site and i'm not sure if i'm abusing it or not.
ps. Red, i would have loved to see your vid diary too of your travels – but i'm on dialup, so my loss.
k
my whole family knows of the med stuff now, so now i can explain. i first read this on the day i had a mammogram and breast ultrasound – and results suggest more investigation is required.
relatively, cp is nothing. i'd like to say – please grab life, if you can. in france i felt missed feelings i hadn't felt since i started dabbling in crip politics – things just became life-draining when people wanted me to contribute in their very set way.
benign is the word! 'scuse the sop…
just to update if i can get away with it – a partial mastectomy + radiation has been ruled out as an option for me coz i don't want the daily stress of risking my lung & heart if I move suddenly during radiation. So, you could say i'm having a full mastectomy coz of cp. but, hey, my life's gonna be saved… um, no, i'm not gonna tell anyone else just to shake themselves outta things and cheer up, coz i've been thru clinical depression and know a person just can't 'snap out of it'. life is simple & complex at the same time. i think some of us get to see life in ways that wouldn't be as easy to see otherwise. when we're so angry, it remains elusive.
cheers
k
yeah i have just seen that i'd be taken as contradictory if i didnt also say how much i've seen how teasing out years of compounding anger takes time to work thru. colloquially, that's how i would describe my observations anyway
.
I think there's a lot going for expressing oneself as Erin has. I remember once sending poetry to someone i wanted to share with, and, well, somehow it was taken as a threat, and a sign that i had no idea of real life. it was not that i had bad taste, but, oh no, it was proof positive, apparently, that i was a freak, a mess, and led a useless and terribly miserable life. I actually couldnt believe his reaction, and so forgave immediately, realising he must've had more on has plate. that was the first of many times, and i certainly didnt respond as normally after years of it.
once i signed off from here last night, infuriated memories hit me again, and i wished i said something here about how crips in that bloody advocate world had me all stitched up to suit. one day you're amazing, next day you're proof of what institutionalization has done – totally invalidating anything they don't like hearing you say. but it was only some individuals, not the whole crowd. one can get away with the perfect bloody crime, i'm sure, if your name often pops up as actually instigating fair complaint processes, reforms, abuse awareness, helping people to live independently. although it's not a crime – i'm more sure than anyone would want to be, that i've seen people so psychologically lost and detached that they honestly can't concieve of how they've left others in total disillusionment with their behaviour. I did have trouble trusting as to whether whatever it was i was seeing or saying made any sense at all, once involved with some in crip advocacy. moreover, those much more articulate can have me dismissed extremely easily.
once i understood the dynamic, i slowly improved. it's the same dynamic they'll complain about being at the receiving end of from everyone else.
humans are wierd, man…!
the feeling i'm not making any sense, once i try to talk abgout my experiences, evidently still makes me extra repetitive once i start. i hope the volume of all my writing suggests that there has been a very tough phase in my life, and not that i am extremely kooky/deranged. i hope Erin and Red don't really get discouraged from us old lot, but just to always be aware of potential crackpots at any rate…
(and i understand completely that an outsider can just take a bad hair day, and think that's how it always is – even breathe the wrong way, and some will think you're pissed off at the universe. that's just how some people are. maybe they're projecting on others their own inadequacies, mixed in with legitimate struggles. i just use that to, again, appreciate how fragile all us humans can be. i've always thought that Erin was just having bad hair, but my responses have been brought about by other things)
yeah, i tried to say it felt like the perfect bloody crime when everyone else can think you're well-represented by the very individuals supposedly fighting so galliantly for your 'cause'. but, those individuals themselves truly think they're doing a great job, and never start out to hurt those more personally nearby. they're just utterly lost. i really do call for more reflection in disability movements, and find it strange with all their protestations over what society does o them, that they're not also constantly wary of the effects it also has on their own behaviour to the extent that there is more understanding actively sought of how to not allow those effects to impact further and impinge as heavily into personal relationships as I've known in a few cases.
The effect of society just paled into insignificance for me after working through such continuous lashing out in those I've cared for very very much.
it's impossible to deduce if anyone who has posted on this page is generally ok or not, and I hope anyone still managing to read doesnt feel tarred with the same brush.
phew.
k
I know Erin, and she is an amazing person. She doesn’t let her disability get in the way of many things, and she is always, always smiling. Erin is perhaps one the strongest people mentally that I know. She brightens up my day, and I’m sure she brightens up many other’s too. So thanks Erin, for being you. You’re a wonderful friend.
You’re welcome, friend. Thanks for putting a smile on my face, though I don’t know who you are!
haha. Thanks for the rest of the comments as well. I’m glad some of you can relate so closely. Have a great day. All of you.
I too know Erin, I have seen her grow up from Primary School through to High School and now she is furthering her education. I am incredibly proud to have known her. I am a mum of 4 kids. Our third child had terribly sore ears and bad reflux. Erin was the only person that had the patience and understanding what this baby needed, she was the only person that was able to make him happy for just a couple of minutes. I understand her when she tells me that teenage years are tough, I also know her strength of character and her loving personality. I believe that she will come out the other end of it, being incredibly successful in her chosen field and she will make a difference for children diagnosed with CP. She has the right to tell us the other side of the coin, that life sucks sometimes, that this disease has stopped her from enjoying some aspects of life, that this disease has put her through incredible pain after operations. But also she needs to be told that when she got up out of that chair and she was able to walk again it brought tears to the eyes of this mother as I knew that that was pure strength of character and determination. So chin up darling, I loved your poem, it describes everything you have gone through very well. And there are a lot of people very proud to have known you. You have made me a better, more patient mother. Thank you so very much for everything you did for Logan. XXX
This brought tears to my eyes. I have a son with CP who is only a a few years old and i fear the day when he actually has to endure these same feelings of sorrow and resentment. Not knowing how to handle this I think is what I fear most, however you need to remember there are people who love you and woould do anything for you, and if it was possible take all your pain away.
Grace, I hope you’re responding to the posts before my rant on this page. There’s no way in the world i would want you to think my ranting and raving had much to do with cp. it was about leadership within nz disability movements at the time, and how it seems i was really flying on in life way beyond expectations until i was influenced by very polarizing individuals full with the anger, pain and resentment that i hope your son never knows – i wouldn’t think he necessarily has to. I’ve since learnt that one individual celebrated as a disabled leader, that i really had get to me, has a chronic psych diagnosis – he is indeed in much pain and i’ll always care for him immensely, but he doesnt have cp, and did have a very damaging childhood. i wish i knew earlier. only saying as much so that you know your young son is not necessarily destined for a condemned life at all. yeah, sure, there’ll be growing pains…
i’m very embarrassed by what a loon I must sound over the internet in various places, and am only now tryna realise that overall, i am at heart a very reasonable and eventempered character. i’d hate to think what people might be expecting ~ a madwoman ~ when they meet me in person! again, i want parents of young kids with cp to know we’re all just individuals. i wouldn’t try to read in too much at face value as to how any kid might turn out!!!!! please relax…;)
Grace, Greetings!
Having gone through three adolescences(?) my two sons and my daughter, Erin’s poem gives a CP perspective to typical teenage angst. All credit to Erin, she has contsructed an excellent poem that clearly and fully describes her thoughts, feelings and obsevations. Like all teenagers, other’s opinions and perceptions are of vital importance.
To slightly change the subject…..how do members of the CP community feel about the potryal of Alex, a character with CP in the Aussie drama ‘Packed to the Rafters’?
My personal opinion is they have done a very good job of developing this character in a not too schmaltzy manner. Issues around him maturing and gaining more independence, his feeling of loneliness and envy as all around him seem to be happily hooked up, and him now having to take some responsibilty in respect to his older brother dealing with epilepsy….
Love to hear other’s opinion
hi again Rosemary & co,
still tryna be brief – i guess for me, the Rafter’s portrayal served as a clarification as to how some aspects of cp maybe construed, and that just helps with platitudes i’ve heard all my life, but never quite understood. and i have to say that just helps – “oh, is that what people mean … oh, ok, no worries, that’s definitely not a real issue… “.
I think it’s safe to say that I’ve gotten over most of the “teenage angst” expressed here. It is interesting to me to look back on this and see how my attitude has changed (for the better). I still have bad days, as anyone does, but don’t view my CP in the same light most of the time. In fact, I’m quite okay with it and am going many places and doing lots of worthwhile things with my life.
I still don’t regret writing this though as it did express what I felt at the time and actually, it makes me miss writing. I haven’t written any poetry in a long time! Anyhow, nice to see some further comments on this. To all those with kids who have CP, even if they do feel like this at some point, it gets better. The teen years are tough, but it’s all about accepting oneself and one’s uniqueness, and though I’m not totally there yet, I’m definitely a lot closer than I was when I wrote this. Cheers!
WOW this person sure needs help .
ur beautiful in everyway possible .. i wish i could help u more ..
this is a really touching poem im sorry to hear this person feels like this having a special disabilty makes u stand out from the rest ..
instead of being so negative about it maybe u should think about some positive things or maybe talk to another person who has the same disabilty as u and then u wouldnt have to worry about what the other people areound u are doing !
keep ur head up sunshine and smile
GamillahDib@hotmail.com
inbox me, if u ever needa talk or when u feeling down
this is very sad…
this is realy sad but makes u know loads about it, my best friend Evers cousin has got it shes only 2 or 1 and she cnat do anything my friend crys all the tiem shes just hopeing she can get better even though she knows she cant. The little girl (Lotta) will die verry young and 2 be cured she son these wacky diets that r dreadfull i realy realy feel bad 4 my freind and her family and Lota’s family i wish i could also help her get better xxxx p.s: Jazz iff ur reading this i love u soo much and i always hope the best 4 Lotta xxxxxx
Hi Erin!!,
I think your amazing and the poem is amazing. I myself am disabled. I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta. However, my mommy has CP along with mild MR. Well all have our crappy days. But I know that you know everything is okay! It took me forever to embrace disabily and love disability culture. To love my scars. My deformed body. Constant doctor trips. Etc. However, I love my life and love that I am not “normal”. I feel like God took extra time on me to make me different. Not just a generic assembly line person. My mom is amazing. I may not know CP on a internal level but I know it well. My mom accomplished so much, myself included, and came so far and you will too! I read once, “you can’t have a rainbow with the sunshine AND the rain”. Our disabilities, and how we carry ourselves shows that we are strong. And indeed we are! Xoxoxoxox
Hi Erin:
I myself have CP (Spastic Quadriplegic CP). I think that your poem is very true to life. I applaud you for writing this poem & I think that you’re an extremely gifted writer.
Hi Erin,
My boys and I started helping families of cerebral palsy children with their essential needs. In the past year the needs have grown and also the amount of families involved. We have now recently started a charity organization called ‘Bags of Hope’ I chose the name ‘Bags of Hope’ for the simple reason that we mainly provided bags of meal for these families since they are poor and make due with very little food. We had arranged a Easter party for them over the easter holidays and I met these children and their parents for the first time. It was so difficult to hide my tears. The mothers of these children are very special ladies. They carry their children even those that are 16 years old on their backs to where they need to be since they have no money for wheelchairs. I want to thank you for your honesty in your poem. I dont think that anybody, unless they are in the same situation can relate to how you sometimes must feel. This poem must be an eye opener for those who take a normal life forgranted. If you have any advice for me on how to help these families and ideas on how to raise money for them I will be so grateful as I feel that this is a task that I alone cannot tackle. Thank you and Take care
Sorry I forgot to mention that we live in Kitwe, Zambia