My story
I was very healthy and happy during the 40 weeks and 6 days I grew, safe and sound, in my mum's tummy. Everything changed at birth, which didn't go as expected. I was born in cardiorespiratory arrest and needed to be resuscitated straight away.
A few days later, the doctors explained to my parents that I had suffered hypoxic-ischaemic injury, which damaged my brain. I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy – Dystonic Tetraparesis, a condition that has challenged every movement I make ever since.
Since I was 15 days old I have been followed by physiotherapists at the public hospital in Faro, the beautiful Algarve city where I was born. At 4 months I started a new chapter at APPC Faro, an association for people like me, where I keep making progress every day.
Thanks to my parents' tireless efforts, I have been having intensive treatments at private clinics. Whenever they manage to raise the money, my mum takes me to spend a month at Clínica Kinésio, in Espinho. Each treatment combines physiotherapy (the Therasuit method), the Padovan method, speech therapy, occupational therapy and transcranial stimulation (TDCS). Each month costs €6,740 (2024 quote) and I need 3 to 4 a year.
My life has been full of challenges, but also of lots of smiles and achievements. Every step I take towards independence shows the love and support I get from my family and everyone around me.
Every gesture of yours is a giant step on my road to independence.
Martim