Audrey, a parent of a young child with cerebral palsy, tells their story of resilience through the early years of treatments and surgeries

When Chandler was born prematurely and underweight, we knew he would need to stay in the hospital to gain weight and strength. But just five days later, he faced an even bigger challenge—a bowel infection called NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), which required multiple, urgent surgeries. Losing most of his bowel, there were times we didn’t know if he would pull through.

As parents, we faced the unimaginable, signing consent forms that acknowledged he might not make it through the surgeries.

Months later, one of the hospital physiotherapists gently suggested the possibility of cerebral palsy due to Chandler's limited mobility and developmental delays. By age three, he was officially diagnosed with cerebral palsy, GMFCS Level III. Chandler was non-verbal until about age four, and speech delays remain one of his ongoing challenges. But we learned to celebrate every step forward. From those early days of silence to seeing him confidently participate in show-and-tell at school, his progress has been nothing short of incredible.

Since then, Chandler has worked closely with a team of professionals: physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists who each bring their unique expertise to support him.

The stretches, speech practice, fine motor skills, strength-building, cognitive exercises—everything felt endless. But over time, we learned to take it step by step. Each small effort has made a real difference, and each small victory has brought us closer as a family.

To other families walking a similar path: you are not alone. Take things one day, one exercise, one word at a time. And above all, remember to savor your time together. It’s the moments of joy and connection that carry us through.

You can follow more of Audrey’s and Chandler’s cerebral palsy journey by visiting their Instagram page: www.instagram.com/mommyisstilllearning