Hi Everyone! Today’s blog isn’t just all about me, but my siblings too. I have a 15 year old sister called Emily who is going to college this year, her hobbies are going to the cinema, and doing LOTS of gaming. She also is a fan of drama like me! I also have an 8 year old brother called Lincoln, who I argure with almost everyday lol. He is in year 4. His hobbies are going to football, watching football and…..listening to football. he goes to watch Stockport County with my dad and grandad and uncle and he plays for a football team too! Lastly, my ADORABLE little brother Noah who is 2 years old and he has the curlest hair EVER! It looks like spaghetti so I sometimes call him “spaghetti hair!” His hobbies are being cute, playing catch and EATING A LOT!

So it’s not just me who has a disability in the family, my older sister Emily is living with Autism which is a disability that makes her communicate differently then other people. So when I ask her a question, she sometimes finds it hard to answer. But some questions I ask, she likes to answer them and she answers them easily. For example, she likes it when I ask her questions about things she likes. Like “when did the first Mario game come out?” She will say that it came out in 1981 which is right! She’s pretty smart when it comes to video games. Escpecially Mario Kart!

My relationship with Emily is good, sometimes we argue with each other (Like who’s turn it is to watch TV and what to watch lol) but we agree on stuff too! We like to watch films together on the weekends when we have time. We both like watching films my mum watched when she was little, we also like going to the cinema together and just having a nice time with each other!

My relationship with my younger brother Lincoln… let’s just say we don’t agree on anything. Ever. But when we don’t annoy and try to fight with each other, he let’s me go on his Xbox with him, (when he’s feeling generous he once said lol) We don’t watch movies together because he LOVES to watch horror movies or superhero stuff like Marvel. I just like to watch more girly stuff like my mum. (And no, let me stop you right there, I DON’T watch my little pony or Barbie with her!) more my best friends wedding or 13 going on 30…..We also like to play video games together like Fifa 19 or Avengers on his Xbox.

My relationship with my 2 year old brother is… well, I can’t explain to you how good it is! He is just the cutest little person ever with his curly hair! He likes it when I do impressions of people he likes to watch on TV. I like playing downstairs with him we learn a lot of words and animal noises together, it would be just like his own private school with me as the teacher and him as the student! (That’s if he pays attention instead of watching In the Night Garden or Hey Duggie on TV!)

So now you know a lot about my siblings, I don’t think its been easy for them having me as a sister, with all the surgeries I’ve had and appointments, I didn’t choose to have CP, but when you think about it, they didn’t choose to have a sister with it either. Once I had to stay in Hospital for a WHOLE month because of my operation and it completley split us up as me and my mum was in Leeds and my family was in Manchester. Sometimes we don’t get to do stuff we would love to do as a family because of my CP like Trampolining…. I cant jump so I just sit on my knees which isnt fun, going to the beach have you ever tried to push a wheelchair on sand… yeah its impossible so 9/10 my dad had to carry me. Going for walks….this sounds silly but unless its a flat path a wheelchair cant be pushed on it there isnt a great deal disabled people can do even going for a meal if there was steps well how am I gonna get up there? again my dad would carry me. So because I couldn’t do that stuff they couldn’t either so we diddnt do loads when I was little, so they missed out on a few family days. BUT the good news is im not in a wheel chair anymore I can go upsteps and I can go off road (still not a trampoline tho) maybe thats why I never got invited to any bithday parties because I couldnt do much when I was younger but my parents always tried and made sure I had the best childhood and trust me I have.

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When I had my surgery, my siblings were mostly supportive, Emily carring my stuff upstairs, Lincoln was getting me a drink when I needed one and also talking to me as well, and Noah… just being Noah but with more hugs and kisses then normal which was kinda suprising! I think he realised what was going on with me he had to watch me be poorly in a hospital bed so he kinda switched himself on to it! I felt so grateful that my family did all that stuff for me when I needed it, or even when I didn’t even ask for it, they still did it for me and for that I am forever grateful… I never wanted my siblings to ever feel left out which I think sometimes they do I mean I get a lot of attention (because of my CP) like when me and my mum do physio for a hour thats a hour not spent with them, sometimes I have to come first and I do feel bad but I think once there old enough they will understand, they do try and equally give us all the same attention.

My hopes and dreams for us when I am older are that I hope they achive AMAZING things like doing what they like best like Gaming and being a Footballer and just being cute and brilliant over all! I hope I go on to be an Actress maybe when I am older (But maybe I might want to be something different you never know! But for now I will just stick to acting and doing what I do best!) and I want to also have my own shop with cakes and treats and anything really! I’ve already thought of the name! What about “Katie’s Amazing Delights” or maybe “Katie’s Sweet Treats!” What do you all think about that? Let me know in the comments!
So that’s about it folks, please excuse that I just sounded like a crazy sports commentator I just thought it sounded funny. Ha ha? No? Well I’ll remember that for next time I guess…

Thank you all so so SO much for reading and commenting on my post and Instagram! Seriously, your comments are so wonderful and amazing and lovely that they all make my day! I’ve recived private messages and Notifications telling me that I’ve been shared by you amazing people! I have even been Tweeted by the Headteacher at my school himself on the actual school website! Isn’t that something!

Also thank you to my brothers and sister I hope when were older we will all hang out together and laugh at how much we used to annoy each other haha and thank you to my mum and dad who have given me the best life anyone could have and always being there for me.

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Again thank you so so much for reading and commenting nice things which fill my heart up with happiness! I love you all, I hope you have a wondeful day/night and I will write soon! Bye!
Katie xox

Instagram: @Katieholmesblog13

Yep, you read that right…heartbreaking isnt it? Todays blog is going to be all about what it feels like to be left out in “social activites”.

This is very significant to me as a person because it really isn’t fun being left out of other things just because I am different, everyone should be given a chance to fit in even if they have a disabilitly or not.

So first of all, is me being left out in my primary school. Don’t get me wrong, primary school was something I will obviously never forget, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows there. From the first time I walked through those primary school doors, I knew I’d never fit in normally. As I and the school years grew, I became left out of activities more and more. Whenever we had PE and it was like dodgeball or basket ball or anything to do with teams, throwing, balls and catching, I was left out the most then. First example, no one even wanted me when we did team games! Whenever the PE teacher said “time to get into teams EVERYONE” I saw that people edged away from me when the teacher said it. Even my closest friends didn’t want to be with me because of how I am! When I finally got a team, (which I didn’t choose by the way) as I walked to the team I was in, everyone was either scowling at me, or glaring at me like I was nothing to them. Anyway, no one passed the ball to me or let me be a captain when I played. In dodgeball, I used to hear the other team say “lets get Katie”. They thought I couldn’t hear them but boy, I could hear every. single. word. And it just broke my heart when they said that!

I never got invited to any bodys house at primary school, (yep a whole 7 years) after school I would see my friends go to each others house’s, no body ever asked me, I honestly beleve its because the parents found it hard having me there… well they must of thought it would be hard but how do they know they never invited me… That really upset me as i had some good friends at primary school I dont see anyone from school anymore, I wish i got given a chance to go and hang out with them maybe we would still be friends now who knows!!

It makes me feel like I am pointless to people, like i’m a piece of paper to them to throw away just because I am slower then everyone else.

I thought it would be different in high school because I mean, it was a new chapter in my life and you hear such awful things about high school growing up and believe me, before I started high school I thought I would be the odd one out of the school; but after my first week, it wasn’t so bad! It is different now than it was in primary school because I have a lot more friends now, whenever the teacher puts me in a group, no one gives me “the evil scowl and glare” anymore, they let me join in and let me do what I want to do and they even listen to my ideas! (and sometimes even use them!) maybe it’s all about growing up and changing as a person and being more accepting to people who are ‘different’.

I’m only really left out in PE, I do get its because im slower and my balance isnt as good and I know that’s why they don’t pass me the ball and sometimes I can get frustrated at that. But some people tell the teamates to let me have the ball! I’m seriously gratefull that they give me chances now!

It makes me feel like I can actually do something and it feels so nice to be part of a team having CP for me is about being accepted and I think through out my whole life even when im older some people will accept me and some people wont.

Some people do include me in stuff and give me a chance though! Like my neighbour she’s one of my bestest friends she’s called Ebony iv known her for pretty much 10 years I like to think because we have grown up together she’s so accepting of me she knows what I can do and what I cant im so thankfull for having her as a friend, also this really nice girl in my school called Evie includes me a lot too! (She even has another little girl who is her friend who has CP called Lottie!) in fact I have so many nice friends at school and I really hope we remain friends after school too.

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If you want my advice (maybe I should take my own advice) try and make friends with people who have CP, who have the same struggles who also feel so left out, I dont feel sorry for myself as I have an amazing family and my close circle of friends love me for being me, they accept me, they have all made me who I am. All the photos you see are pictures of my lovely family and friends thank you for accepting me and helping me grow and always being there for me

Thank you all so much for reading about this blog and my others! It means the world to me to know that you all support me through my crazy journey through CP!

If you have any questions you want to ask me or anything to say, follow me on my Instagram @katieholmesblog13 or ask on this blog!

Thank you all so so much for reading I hope you have a wonderful day/evening! Bye!

Katie xox

Hey everyone! Todays blog is all about physio! Seriously, physio SUCKS! I have to do physio at home and at school. It may be boring, you might not want to do it, but hear me out, its all worth it in the end! I do physio at least 2 times a day and I also add my 10 min stretches to make me stronger here and there! If you have CP or other medical conditions or even if you don’t have any conditions at all, I just want to talk about what its like when I do physio.

When I was 1 I wasnt hitting any milestone I was crawling, or even trying to crawl so I started physio then i began to crawl, I then needed physio for learning how to walk, I actually cant remember a time when I diddnt have physio……I do at least 1 hour every single day when I wake up, just so my legs can feel strong for the day ahead of me. If I didn’t do my physio when I came home from hospital, or if I never did my stretches at school, I don’t think I would be able to move my legs or even go to school unlike now! If you think that physio is a waste of precious time, (okay okay, before my op on my legs, I only did 10 mins of physio a day because it was SO BORING! But now I realise that it is important in my life.) Just think how it would make you feel and wherever you do your physio could help you be a sronger and better person in the future!

If your a parent with CP please no how important it is to do your physio my mum goes on and on and on at me all the time and I know shes right but sometimes I just need a break but because my legs will get so stiff I cant have a break, if you feel like physio is not worth it, it REALLY is! I mean, I feel like a better, more straight person then I usually was, and that’s because of the AMAZING doctors, nurses and my familly and friends by my side and also because I work so hard for my legs so they and me can have a better future! And, if I and you carry on working as hard as you/I can, you will be able to achive your wishes and dreams!

When I grow up to be a woman, my wish is to be an actress because I LOVE to preform and act my heart out in drama! Me doing my physio everyday is like… another few steps for me to finish my goal and do what I love doing!

Some of my physio exercises are:

Knee Exstensions. (so basically I have to sit down on a chair and put my back nice and straight, and put my left leg up 10x and then my right leg up 10x. I now use a leg weight so it can be a bit hardwr for me to do it!

Sit to Stand. (so a lot of people I know do this one, you have to be sat down, and just simply lift yourself up and go slowly down again 10 times, It would be amazing if you could do them with no hands!)

Bridging. (I did this one before my op, but I do it for longer now! So, it’s pretty simple, you just have to go into a bridging position, and go up for 5 seconds, and come back down. I do this one 10 times!)

Going Up And Down The Stairs. (alright, I know that going up and down some little stairs once or twice is easy, p.s: it depends how big and how tall your house is lol. But for me I CRAWL up the stairs! (Sigh) I know I know, im not little anymore so that’s why im starting to do it properly! All you have to do is go up and down the stairs with your left and right leg one at a time. Simple!)

I hope you found this blog interesting! Feel free to ask questions on my Instagram or on this blog!

I hope this blog was helpful towards you or anyone you know!

Also one more thing I promise but I just want to say thank you to my amazing physiotherapist Sophie, she has helped me in so many ways im so thank full for her if anyone in manchester is looking for a private Physiotherapist please get intouch with her https://manchesterchildrensphysiotherapy.co.uk/

I love you all so much thank you for your support!

Love Katie xox

Hi Everyone! Todays new blog is going to be all about my achivements in my life. Ive done a lot of achivements in my life; and today I am going to name them for you!

To me I think everything I try to do is an achivement, like when I first crawled for the first time, (seriously though, I had to do physio JUST for crawling!) when I took my first steps all on my own, and when I went up the stairs for the first time.

When I was little, I was in a wheelchair for 4 years of my life. Then I took a few independent steps and my walking unaided gradually got better but because I was so high on my tip toes I used a walker, but luckily when I was 11, I started on walking sticks. (I think 11 is a pretty late age to use walking sticks if you ask me) The reason I managed on walking sticks, (even though it took a while to get used to them) is because I did 1 hour of physio with my physiopherapist, Sophie.

The next achivement in my life is when I went to RobinWood in Year 6. I did quite a few achivements there; like when I managed to climb a climbing wall even though I was exhaused at the end. Someone at RobinWood was in the same room as me and she kept on picking on me caling me names, and telling me that I would never be able to do any of the activities there because of my “stupid disability” but the next day when we had to do the climbing wall, I showed her that I could do it even though I have a disabillity and even though it took me a while (5-10 mins). You should’ve seen her face! It was all red and she was glaring at me and all I said was “Told you I could do it.” and walked back into the line.

Anyway, my next great achivement was going to highschool. Actually, I don’t think this now but on my first day of officially being a Year 7, I thought I would never be able to fit in the school because of how different I was and how big it was as well. I was also nervous because I knew no one there. But I managed to make friends a long the way, but I have loads now!

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The Next Achivement was when I went to the Outward Bound Centre in Wales. I also did a lot of amazing things there like Rockclimbing, Zipwiring and RUNNING and STAYING in the sea for 15 mins! It was amazing there and I hope I can go again in the future! I even had a teacher house with my friend Catlyin! Everyone else had little cabins with bunkbeds!

Another Achivement is when I did the Manchester Run. I did 2.5K with my mum as you already might know from my first blog. It was probably one of the hardest and most tiring things I have ever done in my entire life. When I managed to finish the run, I did it in half an hour and I was 98th. Not bad right? It felt like I was doing it for hours because of how tired I was! I think I did it because everyone was cheering me on and that made me believe in myself. I remember even telling my mum I couldn’t do it; but with everyones support telling me I could, I managed to do it! I was so proud of myself but I was also proud of the people who supported me on the way.

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The next Achivement (I know, there is a lot of them) is my operations. You might be wondering why I include them in my list. The reason why is because I fought through them even though they changed my life, and I call them achivement because I have dealt with them my entire life. And also because I was strong, brave, not willing to give up and I also knew the outcome would help.

The last one is about you guys being your wonderful selves, it’s because of you guys that this blog has been an achivement. I never thought this blog would actually be listened to all around the world; I just thought this would be a blog where all my friends and familly would listen to. Take some personal advice from me: if you just believe in yourselves and be yourself too you will be able to do absolutley AMAZING things!

Thank you all so so much for your support on this blog and my instagram, your comments just make my day all the time and they are all so beautiful!

Make sure to believe and be yourself!

I love you all so so much, thank you again for your support! I will update you on my Instagram when the next blog is avaliable! Bye! >3 https://www.instagram.com/katieholmesblog13/

Hey Everyone! Todays blog is all about why people have to stare. Do not get me wrong, staring is normal, I understand why people do it as I walk past, but I just wanted to blog about how it effects me personally. loads of people have stared at me since I was born. It didnt effect me then, how could it? I did not understand what it was. As I grew older, the stares grew along with me too.

The stares happen pretty much every day of my life, even going to supermarkets, I get a lot of children young children staring at me I so wish there parents would say ask her why she has the walker or why she has the sticks, its teaching them to know more about disabled people and this way they will be more accepting, also a lot when me and my familly go on holiday together. I mean a lot, maybe there not used to seeing disabled people I honestly dont know. Loads of people literally just stop walking, turn their heads to me and stare. Every single holiday I have had with my familly has been a holiday to remember, but it would be perfect if people just didnt have to stare at me wherever I go. You would honestly think I was an animal at the zoo they dont even try and hide it, all I can think is ‘yes i know i may look a little bit different, well my legs do but im completely normal’

Next thing on “the list” (Yep, there IS a list of where people stare at me lol) is school. I know what you must be thinking, “But Katie, I thought you had loads of friends and that I didnt think it would bother you!” (If you do not think this, I apologise, not everyone can be a psychic right? Since I couldnt be a doctor, I thought a psychic would do the job… never mind!) my true friends dont care about my sticks or my walker but the truth is, it does bother me. Whenever I walk past people they stare at my splints, my walker, and my sticks. But sometimes whenever I feel unconfortable, I just pretend that no one is staring at me, my legs, or anything to do with my CP. It does make me feel more proud of who I am to pretend like no one is staring at me. Thats the best way to deal with it I feel pretend no one is starring some people even walk past and sat awwww…..im 13 I dont need anyone’s sympathy. The nicest feeling in the world is being accepted some days I feel it and sometimes I dont, like I said my real friends dont even think twice about it.

The next “fantastic” staring review is that it is normal to stare. Listen, I know I did this a little on the first paragraph but i just want to explain in detail why this one is okay to me. (Don’t worry, you’re not going to be up ALL night reading this ha ha) I think this is ok beacuse they only want to know what happenend to me I think its human nature to stare. Some people are curious I would be too, it bothers my mum more than anyone she always says if they stare just say what you looking at….but im not EVER going to do that. The only problem is that I feel uncomfortable whenever people do stare. (The word unconfortable has been used quite a lot to describe how I feel I think lol)

This is the last staring review now. I left this one for last because I feel like it is the most important one of them all: if you have a personal opinion or question about me, feel free to ask/say; I won’t hesitate to tell you the answer. To me I feel like people are scared to ask in case I get embarrased. It’s absolutley fine! I love speaking to people about my CP I am so proud to be who I am I wouldnt ever change the fact that I have Cerebral Palsy its what makes me me.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog if you still want to stare go ahead feel free to ask any questions on my Instagram or on this Blog. https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

I love you all

Stay Strong!
Katie xox

It started back when I was 5. I was born with a umbilical hernia, basically I didnt have a belly button, as I grew, it grew along with me! The doctors had to MAKE it into a belly button! Gosh, when you think about it, it sounds really gross! The next surgery was when I was 7 it was 2013 and the surgery I had is called Selective Dorzal Rhizotomy ( SDR for short. ) wow, what a really weird name! I cant even say it out loud! to put it in medical terms its an operation used to improve muscle stiffness. Nerve fibres running from the muscles back to the spinal cord play a major role in muscle stiffness so the great Dr Gooden divided some of these fibres. Well, that was a lot of “doctor talk”. Maybe I could be a doctor myself one day!… Actually… dont tell anyone but I totally just searched it up! Shh! Anyway, I was actually supposed to go all the way to America for that one opertion but instead I was the LAST PERSON to get it on the NHS. Belive it or not, I was actually in the Manchester Evening News because of it! AND granada reports on the TV! If you want to see it, here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEuqFVQJRRI&list=PL26B302FFAAAF05B6&index=4&t=0s Omg, how small and babylike was I! And no, I wasnt able to do ballet, because I had more horrible surgeries…

Onto the next one which was only 6 weeks after SDR, my tendons in my calfs were still a but tight so they cut them and I had to wear pink casts on my legs for 3 weeks.

To be honest things were going great with my walking I was out of the wheel chair and using a walker, but in 2015 my legs started twisting inwards and I would trip over my own feet as I walked so when I was 9 they decided to do…..Femoral Osteotomy! What is up with these weird names? Could they not to easier names instead of making them sound like they are in Latin? No? Well, i thought it would be a good thought… okay then. Femoral Osteotomy corrects the femur bone because mine twisted in they had to sort of break them and then twist it round so my legs are straight and hold it in place with metal plates…. on this stage of my life I found this surgery pretty difficult because I was growing up at about this time and I was in a lot of pain and I was sick most of the time. But I was so grate-full that the doctors were able to do this on me I never took any of it for granted.

Fast forward to 2019… yes… this year… on January 4th I had ANOTHER operation because my left leg had started to twist in again and again was making me trip up even tho my right leg was prefectly straight they had to take the metal plates out of my right leg and rebreak my left leg but this time hold it in place with a metal rod. Seriously though, everywhere I go around school people ask me “were you awake for this operation Katie?” I normally tell them that I was asleep… but in my head I am like: what in the world?! why would anyone think I would be awake? That would hurt more than being stung 10 times! Anyway my walking now is REALLY good! I am already walking around the house! I do have to do physio 2 times a day, when I wake up I do a 10 minuite long sitting strech, a hour long when I get home from school, before or after tea, and just before I go to bed at night. Physio may be boring and hardwork, but if you do it as much as you can you will be doing so much better for your legs, (sometimes my mum pushes me to do it as I can be a little lazy) but I mean, if I never did my physio after my operation, there would be no point in having my surgery and I wouldnt be able to walk!

To parents or children or anyone who is reading this, if anyone of you, adult or child, had or is having the same or simillar surgery as me, it may be a little bit worrying, but if you just do as much as you can, it will make it much more better for your future! Always here for anyone who wants to talk or share there experiences…..

Links for information about SDR are https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/selective-dorsal-rhizotomy
Please give me a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

So this is my first ever blog…. wow that IS exciting! So me and my mum have decided to make this blog because I have a very challenging medical condition in my life called Cerebal Palsy. It is a condition that was caused by my birth because I was born 3 months early. (28 weeks) I wasnt diognosed till I was 4 with cerebal palsy I learnt how to walk when I was 4 years old, HOW FRUSTRATING…… In my 13 years of life I have had 5 operations on my legs to help me walk, The biggest thing I am proud of is that in 2018 I ran the Great Manchester Run I ran 2.5K with my mum, Im hoping to do it again someday. CP should never stop you from fulfilling your dreams, if you have supportive people around you, trust me when I say you can achieve anything!!

In primary school people use to tell me that I am weird because of my CP, when people tell me that im weird I say “thank you! being weird is being myself!” I personally dont think it is an insult when people call you weird because thats how I was born and I LOVE being weird! CP has NOT stopped me doing what I love most. For example, when I was in Year 7 I went to The Outward Bound Centre in Wales where I did rock climbing and zip wireing! I also went Quadbiking in Egypt, ( I know, how crazy! ) I have even driven a boat across the River Nile….. and loads more FANTASTIC stuff! Its not me in my Familly, there is my mum Emma, who is one of the most supportive person in the entire world, there is my dad, Jonny who is the most hardworking person in the world! My big sister Emily who is 15 years old, we sometimes have laughs together. ( But we mostly argue about what to watch on TV since we share a room lol. ) Sisterly Love am I right? I also have 2 younger brothers Lincoln and Noah.

Anyway I really hope that this blog means something to you, if your a parent with CP, a child, or even if you dont have Cerebal Palsy, this blog is all about awareness to CP and what life with it is like so you can see through my eyes and to understand what it is like when a 13 year old girl like me has it. Im hoping to share my life with you as much as I possibly can. I am going to share my ups and my downs of CP with you, all my hospital visits, (Because seriously, there is a LOT of them in my life!) So until Next Time from my Blog! Bye!

PS. you can follow me on my instagram page – katieholmesblog13 https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en