How I Managed To Live With Cerebral Palsy: Brian Simiyu

My name is Brian Simiyu, I was born with Cerebral Palsy. Actually my mother had delayed labor that lasted for over 48 hours, which according to science, is a major cause of cerebral palsy.

There are two main types of Cerebral Palsy namely Spastic and Ataxic. For my case, I have Spastic Cerebral Palsy which mainly affects the muscle tone and results to stiffness of some parts of the body. For example I cannot do some of the normal tasks such as eating with spoon, hand writing, taking myself somewhere etc. My speech isn’t so clear that someone who doesn’t know me cannot get what I’m saying but if you stay with me for 2 weeks you will understand me and enjoy my company.

But that hasn’t deterred me from accomplishing my dreams and goals. I have achieved a lot, last year I did my IGCSE and passed very well and now I’m waiting to be enrolled at USIU to pursue bachelor in business management. My long term goal is to be a Realtor and own a multinational company in all of Africa.

At first when people see me, they always think I can’t do anything at all. They take me as a small kid insinuating that I don’t know what is going on. But when they get to know me better, they are surprised and start to have interest in me. But the are other people who don’t believe in me no matter how I try to prove myself I can. Those are the ones who I don’t entertain in my life because I always say if you can’t accept me the way I am, then leave me the way I am.

People must know Cerebral Palsy is not a disease but a condition and people living with it must be treated equally. That’s my vision and I will accomplish it.