Life, Love, and Lessons from Being Ivy’s Mum

When your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, no one hands you a roadmap. There’s no manual that tells you how to navigate the therapies, the medical jargon, the sleepless nights, or the mountains of forms.

There’s no guide for how to keep showing up — over and over — when it feels like the world is two steps behind your child’s needs.

But you do it anyway. Because that’s what love looks like when you’re a parent to a child with CP.

Ivy is my daughter — funny, determined, clever, and full of life. She also has cerebral palsy. Our journey together has been anything but straightforward. It’s been hospital corridors and operating rooms. It’s been wheelchairs, standing frames, braces, and endless appointments. It’s been tears on days when the world feels unfair — and laughter that knocks the breath out of me on days when she achieves something new.

It’s been ordinary moments too — baking cakes, going to the beach, feeding parrots, school art shows, road trips, pool days, and Christmas mornings. These are the moments that stitch our life together and remind me that CP doesn’t define Ivy — it’s just one part of her story.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to any parent just starting this journey, it’s this: do everything you possibly can. Advocate fiercely. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Learn the language of plans and reports. Fight for inclusion even when people say “no.” And above all, take photos — lots of them.

Photos remind you of how far you’ve both come. They capture the joy that exists alongside the hard days. They tell the truth — that this life is not just medical appointments and mobility aids. It’s birthday cakes and boat rides. It’s achievements big and small. It’s a story worth telling.

The truth is, there will be days you feel like you’re doing it alone. But you’re not. There’s a whole community of parents walking this road beside you — celebrating the same wins, facing the same battles, and holding the same hopes for their children.

This photo montage is a snapshot of our journey — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. And if you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed, I hope it reminds you of this simple truth: you’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.

For more information about parenting, My CP Guide hosts a variety of information resources. Browse the My CP Guide website to find other relevant resources.