Category Archives: Weekly Recaps

#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- 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

#CPChatNow Recap- 01-13-2016

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Welcome to #CPChatNow’s very own website!

Zachary here to bring you the recap for the January 13th, 2016 #CPChatNow chat. There remains a reason Wednesday after Wednesday our community takes to Twitter and participates in the live chat #CPChatNow. There just exists a comfort in relating to others.Take cold weather for example.

Cold weather can be extra challenging for someone with cerebral palsy.Battling the winter cold stands a challenge for many with cerebral palsy. So let us use this week’s extend-the-conversation question to share strategies. Answer “How do you fight the cold?” Respond in the “Comments” section.

Moving on another comfort our community provides involves bonding over accessibility frustrations.

#CPChatNow participants discuss frustrations dealing with accessibility.The aforementioned comforting and bonding proves very valuable. Said sentiments establish a community where one feels safe to open up. Thus the reason I could without hesitation ask about embarrassing falls.

#CPChatNow share stories about embarrassing falls.Anyone interested in learning more about the fall I mention should checkout my CP memoir Off Balanced. Before you go though, remember to answer the extend-the-conversation question. “How do you fight the cold?”

Leave your answer in the “Comments” section below!

Thanks for reading,

Zachary