Monthly Archives: March 2016

#CPChatNow Recap- 03-23-2016

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#CPChatNow co-founder and co-host Zachary Fenell here again to recap this week’s live Twitter chat. Early on staying fit with cerebral palsy emerged as a popular topic.

The CPChatNow community discusses how they stay active despite their cerebral palsy.Members in the CPChatNow community discuss buying trikes.The conversation proved fitting given a question posed to #CPChatNow previously in the week.

"How do you stay fit with cerebral palsy?" is this week's extend-the-conversation question.Now the best time to ask our community questions stands Wednesdays during the live chats (8pm ET-10pm ET). Obviously though, I make an effort to track #CPChatNow tweets throughout the week. Since @JourneyWithCP‘s question aligns with last night’s discussion, let us make her question the week’s extend-the-conversation question. Answer by commenting on this post. “How do you stay fit with cerebral palsy?”

Additionally to staying fit, other cerebral palsy related issues sparked dialogue. Talk about politicians turned to talk about Donald Trump which then became talk about political correctness.

Participants in the #CPChatNow community discuss political correctness.Weather crept into the conversation too. That led to a tip for handling startle reflex amidst thunderstorms.

This tip helps with startle reflex during thunderstorms.On a final note I shared a teaser for next week’s chat.

Next week I will announce our April Google Hangout details and maybe more!

Keep the conversation going! Share how you stay fit with cerebral palsy.

Answer this week’s extend-the-conversation question in the “Comments” section.

Curb the anticipation for next week’s live cerebral palsy Twitter chat. Begin by answering this week’s extend-the-conversation question.

“How do you stay fit with cerebral palsy?”

Again, answer by leaving a comment in the “Comments” section below. Once you respond, gear up for Easter!   Spend time with loved ones and make Easter 2016 one to remember!

Happy Easter!

-Zachary

 

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#CPChatNow Recap- 03-16-2016

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Hi there! Zachary here to recap this past week’s live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow. School kept my co-host Blake Henry away but we shouldered through! Much conversation sparked from a comment about surgery anniversaries.

Do you acknowledge your surgery anniversaries?The surgery discussion soon re-focused back on cerebral palsy treatments.

#CPChatNow community members discuss their experiences with selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR).CPChatNow community members reflect on receiving botox injections.Perhaps we should use the cerebral palsy treatment subject to frame the week’s extend-the-conversation question. Go ahead and answer “What treatments work best for you in treating your CP?” Answer in the “Comments” section.

On an extend-the-conversation related note Fit with CP blogger Daryl Perry found inspiration in last week’s extend-the-conversation question, “How will you raise cerebral palsy awareness?”

Last week's extend-the-conversation question inspired Fit with CP blogger Daryl Perry to write his own post about cerebral palsy awareness.Make sure to read Daryl’s post “Cerebral Palsy Awareness.” His question “What’s your story?” keeps the inspiration building. Inspiration which will manifest with a special blog series here at cpchatnow.com.

Participants in the CPChatNow community come together to plan a special blog series.

CPChatNow asks you, "What treatments work best for you in treating your CP?"

Extend the conversation! Answer in the “Comments” section.

Stay tune for the upcoming “What’s Your Story?” blog series! Also expect news soon on the much anticipated #CPChatNow shirts! Proceeds from the upcoming shirts sale will benefit the non-profit organization Keep On Keeping On (KOKO) Foundation. Checkout KOKO’s website to learn all about the foundation.

While waiting on the aforementioned exciting developments, go ahead and answer this week’s extend-the-conversation question.

“What treatments work best for you in treating your CP?”

Answer below!

Until next time,

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- Cerebral Palsy Swagger Focus Chat

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Happy Thursday!

Zachary here again to recap this week’s #CPChatNow. The live weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat gives our community a reason to get excited about Wednesdays. This week the excitement heightened because Hunter Gandee from The Cerebral Palsy Swagger joined us for a focus chat.

Excitement for March 9th's Focus Chat proved a mutual feeling shared by both Cerebral Palsy Swagger and #CPChatNow. Hunter joining us provided us an opportunity to learn more about Cerebral Palsy Swagger’s initiatives. Plus how they feel regarding their story going viral!

Hunter Gandee explains the catalyst for Cerebral Palsy Swagger.Hunter discusses the media coverage he and Cerebral Palsy Swagger received.

Hunter Gandee tells what he considers the best part about the Cerebral Palsy Swagger publicity.Hunter directs those curious about Cerebral Palsy Swagger's future activities to the appropriate resource.Stay updated on Cerebral Palsy Swagger’s future activities and like their Facebook page!

In addition to learning more about their cerebral palsy awareness initiatives, last night supplied the chance to get to know Hunter and Braden on a personal level.

Hunter talks about his and Braden's interests, besides raising cerebral palsy awareness.Hunter reveals some of Braden's other interests.Personally I found learning more about Hunter and Braden’s interests an empowering experience. After all while cerebral palsy creates commonalities within our community, human nature dictates we also possess our own separate interests.

Another human nature dictation decrees we each maintain the ability to make the world around us a better place. Like Cerebral Palsy Swagger, we too can spread cerebral palsy awareness! Exactly how to do so Hunter shared last night.

Hunter Gandee explains how others can raise cerebral palsy awareness.

Answer this week's extend-the-conversation question. How will you raise cerebral palsy awareness?

Leave a comment and share how you will raise cerebral palsy awareness!

Sure, not all attempts to raise cerebral palsy awareness will go viral. Yet if your actions just educates one person, you can say you increased cerebral palsy awareness. Thus let me ask as this week’s extend-the-conversation question,

“How will you raise cerebral palsy awareness?”

Answer by commenting below. Maybe our different answers will even inspire new ideas!

Talk to you again soon,

Zachary

 

#CPChatNow Recap- 03-02-2016

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Let a new era in the cerebral palsy community CPChatNow officially begin!

I am #CPChatNow co-founder and current co-host Zachary Fenell. I introduce myself because the future will see posts from others in our community. While we work towards those developments, I will resume providing you recaps highlighting our live weekly Twitter chats.

Previously said recaps appeared on my own blog at zacharyfenell.com. In an effort to create more community ownership though, this website came about. Last night during our live chat I officially revealed cpchatnow.com.

The CPChatNow community reacts to the news of a website dedicated to our community.The CPChatNow community contleplates possibilities for cpchatnow.com.As the latter screen grab speaks to there exists many possibilities to grow CPChatNow through the website. Over the next few weeks we will set out actionable steps to turn the possibilities into actualities.

Meanwhile allow us to focus our attention on Wednesday, March 9th (THIS Wednesday). Announced by my co-host Blake Henry, we will welcome a very special guest in the upcoming week.

Wednesday, March 9th Hunter Gandee from Cerebral Palsy Swagger joins #CPChatNow for a focus chat on CP and the future!Back in 2014 Hunter carried his brother Braden on his back for 40 miles in a trek dubbed “Cerebral Palsy Swagger.” The story went viral, garnering much mainstream attention for cerebral palsy awareness. Seriously mainstream! Hunter threw out the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game and won Sports Illustrated’s 2014 High School Athlete of the Year Award. Wrestling fans in our community may even recall seeing Hunter and Braden on Monday Night Raw.

Perhaps most impressive about Hunter and Braden stands the fact they continue their cerebral palsy advocacy efforts. This included raising money for an accessible playground at Braden’s school and topping their 2014 40-mile walk with 57 miles in 2015! You can learn more about these latest endeavors via CNN among other news stations.

Between the big website and focus chat announcements yesterday you might think we exhausted our excitement levels. Yet we managed to reach an excitement hat trick! Over the last month Erin (@emdeerx) and I both spent time creating designs for future #CPChatNow shirts. We revealed our respective designs last night.

One of Erin's design for future #CPChatNow shirtsZachary's design for future #CPChatNow shirts.Erin’s second design holds a variation.

Erin's #CPChatNow Design A1

Option #1: This design remains specific to our Twitter chats.

Erin's second variation to her CPChatNow train shirt design.

Option #2: This option mentions our Twitter chats but also acknowledges our presence on Facebook.

Voice your opinion on the variation you prefer with this week’s extend-the-conversation question. “What train shirt design do you prefer?” Answer in the “Comments” section below!

Finally like a train building speed, next week’s chat promises to build on our momentum. Make sure to join us when Hunter Gandee from Cerebral Palsy Swagger leads our focus chat on CP and the future.

Cerebral Palsy Swagger Focus Chat Graphic