CP Week Star Profile

Name: Giacomo

Age: 4

Suburb: Balcatta

Wants to be: A Motorbike Rider

Type of CP: Left hemiplegia

What else does Giacomo like to do for fun?
Play soccer, football, ride his push bike, scooter and he practices all his tricks he has learnt through the day - over and over!

To what extent does CP present a challenge?
The full use of his arm and leg is a challenge - Giacomo is now aware of his disability and he will often say he can't do something that requires two hands, or he will say 'my bad arm' or day that when he kicks the soccer ball, his bad leg cannot kick like his good one.

How does he overcome these challenges?
We are always telling him that if he gives it a try he can do it, never give up and just keep trying and that is just what Giacomo will do.

What is one thing you would like people to understand about CP?
To know what it is, and how many different types of CP there are, so they can look at a person with CP and not look away.

What are some of your proudest moments with Giacomo?
- When he started walking - because I was told that he may not be able to walk, this is before I knew he had CP

- When he could ride his push bike by himself and keep both feet on the pedals

- Every day there is something Giacomo may do or say that makes me so proud of him but the biggest proud moment was when he started to do number two's on the toilet, it has always been a problem due to the trouble and pain. When he did it we were both very happy!

Many thanks to Sharon, Giacomo's mum, for sharing Giacomo's story with us