A visit to the Spastic Centre, PJ.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders of posture and movement due to non-progressive defect in the developing brains of the infant. It is quite prevalent in Malaysia as it affecting 1 in 100 live births, as compared to 2 in 1000 live births in developed country. This disorder does not caused by genetic but in fact it could be due to many other causes. These children can still grow up like other children but unfortunately, they will be facing problems in the movement development, speech, taking care of themselves and sometimes, can become mentally retarded.

Thanks to the Spastic Children's Association of Selangor and Federal Territory, I have the chance to visit the CP children with good progression. This Spastic Centre is not an orphanage, but it is more likely a school. The CP patient i saw before were all staying in hospital who developed complications and had to be admitted, because they are not mobile and therefore become susceptible to develop complications like lung infection, contractures and bedsores. Thus this group of poor-progressive CP patient are somewhat more difficult and complicated than the group i visited this morning.

The children there in Spastic Centre are mobile, although some of them actually has to be dependent on wheel chair and walking aid, thus making them just as active as other normal child. Moreover, many of them are mentally normal and can study the normal school's syllabus, just that they maybe delay and sometimes become difficult in speech and expressing themselves. For those mentally retarded patient who still has good body movement, the centre also teach them to work vocational job and carrying out the basic activities of daily living. All these good achievements are owing to the compassionate and caring rehabilitative physiotherapists, paediatricians and staffs there.

Sadly to say, many people might still have stigmatization on those parents or children with CP, I was also felt sorry and sympathy to CP patient as well. CP is not a disease but it is just a disorder, the patient is still having feelings and thoughts, thus they should be approach normally added with some patience, as they can be slurred in speech and take times to understand and organize their words. Besides the patient, the parents of the child also are affected by this condition. Some parents might feel guilty of giving birth to "defective" children until they are in denial and therefore seek for complementary treatment leading to delayed treatment of the child. But the good thing is, once they are in this centre, the children will be properly taken care as to establish achievement and prevent complications of CP as told. Furthermore, the children here can get the chance to mix with friends and prepare themselves for the society. From what i observed, the parents staying in the centre with their children aslo obtain a 2 way physical and mental supports from the other parents, thus they will be less stressful in taking care of the children and enjoy the time spending with their children.

Well done, and thank you... Spastic Centre. Good luck to all the children!!