The Suckiest Part about My Cerebral Palsy

I can manage without being able to walk; for the most part I can get where I am going. I can deal with my limited hand function; I can do most of what I need to do. I can even cope, most of the time, with speaking Glenda-ish.

But, what I have yet to handle is the way my body reacts to heat. Once the temperature hits 28, although I try holding out until 30c, I melt. Literally. My four limbs become four heavy, wet noodles. Coordinating their movement takes conscious effort. Tasks like typing and feeding myself becomes a strenuous Olympic event. And, all my nerve endings are on full alert and in pain.  Then my emotions over flow and the tears begin. I'm not a pretty sight in the heat.

All I can manage to do is to lie down and remain still. And that is when frustration kicks in. There is so much I need to do and want to do, but, on hot days, I am not physically able to do at that point, no matter how hard I try.

Last night, getting into bed - something I've done a million times before without incident, I caught my left heel on my scooter, throwing me off balance. I slid, in slow motion, down in between the bed and my scooter. It was one of those falls I knew was coming yet there was nothing I could do except let it happen. Thankfully, the only collateral damage was a chunk ripped out of my heel.

Today's expected high is 34c. Oh joy! That is why I am writing this at 7am, in the cool of the morning. With the fan, blowing, it's down to 28.4c in my office. I'm thinking today is a good day to catch the Olympic spirit and actually watch some. Perhaps I'll witness Canada win its first medal!