Quote Originally Posted by kuhio98 View Post
Because Experts Were No Match for a Duck

Doctors told Becci Lomax that her son, Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, would never walk. But then Becci rescued a lame duckling she named Ming-Ming. When a vet showed her exercises to rehabilitate the duck, Finlay started copying. One day Ming-Ming finally took a few steps on his own and so did Finlay. "I walk like the duck, Mommy," he said. His mobility is still improving.
I have a friend Larry who is 70-something, and has cerebral palsy. When he was a baby, his parents were told he would never walk, never talk, and would be retarded. His parents refused to follow that advice, and raised him at home. He walks, talks, and does everything the doctors said he would never do. When he grew up, he moved here to the Boston area for better public transportation and handicapped access than was available in rural northern Maine, and lives independently. He can still walk, albeit haltingly, but only started using a walker a few months ago, as arthritis is kicking in a little. He can speak, and while one has to listen carefully to understand him, he is intelligent, well-read, and works as a counselor for United Cerebral Palsy. I have no doubt part of his job is simply being there to prove doctors can be just plain wrong!