Yesterday I met Matt Hollywood!

Yesterday I got to spend some time with Matt Hollywood! He came up to meet me and to see where we are holding our Magic Show in July. He was very nice... and tall too! He carried me around while we went over how the shows would run and told us all how fantastic this event is going to be. Matt had some great ideas too- it is going to be a great event! If you would like to see bits of his show you can see it on his website matthollywood.com and you won't be disapointed.
You can now buy tickets for my dinner shows on July 16th and 17th 2010- So get in fast before they are all gone! I would love to see you all there!

                  

My Therapies and Treatments

Although my treatments are just beginning I need to see alot of different people! I have a paediatrician that I see regularly. He doesn't give me exercises but he does give me medicines to make sure I can grow big and strong. He has given me melatonin that I need to take before I go to bed to tell my brain that it is night time, so I will go to sleep. I am still out smarting him with this at the moment though!
I see a Physiotherapist every month who gives me new exercises to do at home, and my opthalmologist (eye specialist) who has referred me to a low vision clinic because I also have Cerebral Vision Impairment or CVI. Which means that I can't see very well either. I haven't been to see them yet.
My latest specialist I have seen is a dietician who has written me a special milk formula and some other special things to put in my food like special oils and a high calorie powder. Hopefully this will make me put weight on so I won't need to have a feeding tube.
I know that soon I will be seeing an occupational therapist and a speech therapist so I can learn to maybe do things on my own someday.
And I have alot of exercises that the Australian Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential or aiahp have given me to do as well. I am a busy boy!

What I can do

When I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy I was 11 months old and could only roll from my back to my belly over my left arm. But wilth lots of work I can now roll over my right arm too. I still can't move around when I'm on my belly and I don't like that becase I can't roll back over onto my back and I get stuck!
I can also grab my left toes with my left hand when I am on my back on the floor. I try reeeeally hard to sit up but it is too hard for me yet. I will get there one day but it will be lots of work to learn to sit up. I will keep working so hard that one day I might even be able to hold on to a spoon!

What is Spastic Quadraplegic Cerebral Palsy?

In Australia a child is born with Cerebral Palsy every 18 hours. Cerebral Palsy can be seen in the first 12-18 months of life as it presents when children fail to reach their movement milestones.

Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong non progressive (but it can be changing) child hood disability. It is characterised by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged one or more of the following may occur- abnormal sensation and perception, impairment of sight, hearing or speech, seizures and/or mental retardation.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy affects 70-80% of cases, the muscles are stiffly and permanently contracted. Quardaplegia affects all 4 limbs, trunk and head control. Sufferers cannot walk, have difficulty sitting, not able to move to and from a wheelchair independently and usually aren't able to feed themselves.

The good news is that chances of lessening the effects of Cerebral Palsy are greater when therapies are started at an early age.

Please Support Blaise!

Please join us for an amazing night out to raise funds for Blaise's Cerebal Palsy treatments!

Blaise's photograph by Studio Instinct Photography - Baby Photographer