Cerebral palsy boy never gives up Save

Aug. 2, 2012, 11:46 a.m.

DANIEL Fairclowgh has never let cerebral palsy stop him doing what he loves and is encouraging those with the condition to do the same and never give up.

National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week, from July 30 to August 5, is an opportunity for the strength and needs of people like Daniel to be put in the spotlight.

Daniel was born with the physical condition which affects the movement on the left-hand side of his body.

Having the condition causes the Falcon Primary School student to experience weakness, stiffness and sometimes involuntary movements which can often cause tightness and pain in his left arm.

Daniels mum Sandra Lavender said she first noticed something was wrong when he was four months old and his left hand seemed to be clenched.

At six months Daniel was diagnosed with dystonic hemiplegia which is the most common form of cerebral palsy affecting more than one million children under 21 worldwide.

For most people with cerebral palsy the cause is unknown but Ms Lavender said it can be caused by lack of oxygen to the baby's brain before or during pregnancy.

According to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance the most common cause in babies who acquire the condition after one-month-old is a stroke, which is what Daniel experienced.

There is no known cure for the condition but it can be treated and managed.

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Cerebral palsy boy never gives up Save