One of the difficult creative activities which children with Cerebral Palsy find is singing. The co-ordination of the oro-facio-laryngeal muscles is vital for articulation, phonation and tuneful synchronisation.
When I heard this child sing at an evening event at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, I was taken back. I had heard such children sing only occasionally.
What was outstanding about her was her radiant smile and gentle manners which transcended her difficulties. She sat with difficulty and held the microphone with some effort. None of it was noticeable when she sang.
She sang a song of thanksgiving and hope. That too was a surprise to the audience. The applause and the standing ovation she received at the end of her performance was a tribute to her resilience and not just a response to her melodious singing. According to her mother, she is diligent in practice before she sings in public.
I was recovering at that time from my heart surgery. I have had some challenges to face in terms of adapting to a new life style, the first being to shed some weight. Seeing her cope with challenges of movement, co-ordination, articulation, learning, etc. I became aware of the indomitable spirit within her.
Life offers an opportunity and challenge to each of us. None of us has arrived where we are by an easy passage through life. We have been formed by our circumstances to live and to respond to the opportunities in life.
An adolescent boy told me yesterday, that he has been struggling to read well on his own from the age of six years. He has dyslexia. He is the lead player in foot ball, cricket and basket ball in his school. He turned his challenge to an opportunity.
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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