Zeph amazes us daily with his determination (that occasionally changes to stubbornness!) and his zest for life. When you first meet him, you are greeted by his heart-melting smile, which he even manages after undergoing major surgery. He will bombard you with his non-stop chatter about anything and everything, leaving you wondering how anyone can talk for so long! And you will be touched by his kind soul and his compassion for others.
Zeph came into this world two and a half months early, exactly 9 years ago. Weighing just 1 kg, we could see that this fragile baby was a fighter, watching him endure medical complication after complication.
Zeph was diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) when he was just 11 months. At the time of receiving Zeph’s diagnosis, it felt as if life, as I knew it, had come tumbling down. Little did I realize, that I would be changed forever, and this tiny beautiful child of mine would take me on a very different road, a road strewn with challenges and obstacles, that would teach me more about myself than any other life lesson.
Watching Zeph bond with his younger brother is a sight to see. While Eli has been instrumental in building Zeph’s motivation to learn new things and push boundaries, Zeph has helped Eli grow to become a sensitive, caring and extremely protective younger sibling.
On this day 6th October 2018, we celebrate World CP day. When we look at Zeph, we know that today is about celebrating differences, but more importantly, about acknowledging our similarities.
Zeph may walk differently, he may need to use a metal frame or a wheelchair to move around, but that does not and will not define him as a person.
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