My name is Tyler Cloud. I’m the 16 year old son of Andy and Amy Cloud and have the same CP as Gracyn. I had a pretty tough time when I was younger. Falling a lot and getting stared at by people. My life story is a lot like Gracyn’s life. I was born at 27 weeks and weighed 3 lbs. I was very sick and the doctors told my parents to let me go. That I would never walk, talk or live a normal life. Thank goodness my parents and grandparents didn’t listen. I was released from the hospital when I was almost three months old. Mom and Dad both thought everything was going to be fine. They were told that my development would be delayed due to me being premature. So when I didn’t sit up on my own or start crawling when most babies do, they didn’t worry. I started talking in complete sentences at 10 months old so they just knew that was a sign that everything would be fine. At almost 18 months old they took me to my Dr. who then sent us to a physical therapist. Her name was Leslie Bridges. After seeing her for a few weeks she gave Mom a book one day called “Coping with CP”. Needless to say, my Mom freaked out. I don’t know how I remember all that I do but I remember Mom crying for hours everyday for a long time. We kept seeing Leslie for years and one day she brought up a surgery that she thought might help me. Before the surgery I couldn’t walk at all without my walker. I had braces in my legs that I hated and I fell all the time. It was called a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. She told us that they were very picky who they did the surgery on and that we might not be a candidate but it was worth the try. I remember that first trip to Scottish Rite. It was the longest day. They put me through hours of testing just to tell us that I was not good candidate. My Mom and Ganmama wouldn’t take no for an answer. We went again a few months later. Still the answer was no. Once again, my Mom wouldn’t accept that. She told them she knew I could do it. The did an IQ test, I passed and two days later I was having my SDR. I remember getting some “sleepy juice” then I don’t remember anything until I woke up the next day. I will tell you, it was the most horrible pain. The therapy afterwards was grueling. Each day I would wake up and they would roll me down to the big therapy room with all these toys that on any other given day I would jump at the chance to play with. I wasn’t wanting to play. I just cried. After about a week I started feeling so much better. I actually wiggled my toes for the first time in my life! I was very sore but I was determined to walk alone. I never wanted those braces on my feet again, and did NOT want to be in a wheelchair. I still have notes from my therapist, Miss Leslie, that say “WAY TO GO TYLER! ” and “TYLER TOOK FIVE STEPS TODAY BY HIMSELF”. With each week that passed that number grew from 5 steps to me walking across the room. I’ve been walking independently ever since and I’ve never looked back. I’m so grateful that my family didn’t give up and take no for an answer. I’m so glad that fought to give me the opportunity to live life like I am now. I walk braces free!!! While the pain was severe, I look back and know that it was worth it. I’m on the football, baseball and basketball teams at LHS as their Statistician. I have more friends than I ever thought I would. I do get stared at sometimes but I just smile and wave thinking they must like what they see. ha ha. I hope Gracyn’s surgery goes as well as mine did. Good luck to the Rhodes family and God Bless.

Tyler