My Greatest Blessings While Living with Cerebral Palsy
By Jessica Denise Grono
When people hear the words cerebral palsy, they often think about limitations.
They think about wheelchairs, muscle spasms, involuntary movements, surgeries, or needing help with everyday tasks.
While those challenges are certainly part of my life, they are not the whole story.
For more than fifty years, cerebral palsy has shaped my journey, but it has never defined my worth. Along the way, I’ve discovered something unexpected: some of my greatest blessings have grown from life’s greatest challenges.
Like everyone else, I’ve prayed prayers that seemed to go unanswered. I’ve wondered why God allowed certain struggles into my life. Over time, I’ve learned that unanswered prayers don’t mean God isn’t listening. They often mean He’s working in ways I can’t yet see.
His timing has always been better than mine.
When I stop focusing on what I wish I had and start looking at what God has already given me, my life overflows with blessings.
Here are five that stand out the most.
1. My Faith
My relationship with God is the greatest blessing in my life.
Life has taken me through seasons I never expected—living with cerebral palsy, surviving breast cancer, losing my voice because of vocal cord paralysis, raising children, and navigating uncertainty. Through every season, God has remained faithful.
Do I still have unanswered prayers? Absolutely.
But I’ve learned that faith isn’t about having every answer. It’s about trusting the One who does.
Prayer has become part of my everyday life. Whether I’m praying the Rosary, attending Mass, reading Scripture, or quietly talking to God throughout the day, I find peace knowing He is walking beside me.
When life feels overwhelming, my faith reminds me that I never walk alone.
2. My Family
If someone asked me what I’m most thankful for after my faith, my answer would be simple.
My family.
Laura has grown into an incredible young woman. Watching her begin college has been one of the proudest—and hardest—moments of my life. Although she’s becoming wonderfully independent, she’ll always be my little girl.
Jason continues to amaze me with his compassionate heart, sense of humor, creativity, and kindness. He has grown into a thoughtful young man who still reminds me to laugh, even on difficult days.
Jeff has stood beside me through so many seasons of life. Like every marriage, ours has faced challenges, but we’ve also shared countless joys. His support, patience, and willingness to help me through the daily realities of cerebral palsy are gifts I never take for granted.
My parents, siblings, extended family, and friends have also surrounded me with love and encouragement throughout my life.
No one succeeds alone.
I certainly haven’t.
3. Teaching Gave Me Purpose
For years, becoming a teacher felt like an impossible dream.
I have severe cerebral palsy. I need assistance with many daily tasks and have a speech impairment. There were people who quietly questioned whether I could teach.
God had different plans.
Today, teaching isn’t simply my career.
It’s my calling.
Every classroom reminds me that children thrive when someone believes in them.
I hope my students learn reading, writing, and math, but even more than that, I hope they leave my classroom knowing they matter.
If my students see a teacher in a wheelchair leading a classroom with confidence, perhaps they’ll grow into adults who look beyond disabilities and see people’s abilities instead.
4. Independence Looks Different
One of the biggest lessons cerebral palsy has taught me is that independence doesn’t mean doing everything by yourself.
For years, I thought independence meant never needing help.
Now I know better.
Independence means making my own choices.
Choosing to become a wife.
Choosing motherhood.
Choosing a career.
Choosing to write.
Choosing to travel.
Choosing to advocate for others.
Yes, I need assistance with many physical tasks, and I’m deeply grateful for the attendants, family members, and friends who help me every day.
Accepting help has never made me less independent.
It has allowed me to live the life God intended for me.
5. Purpose Through Cerebral Palsy
If you had asked me years ago whether cerebral palsy could become a blessing, I probably would have struggled to answer.
Today, I understand.
Because of cerebral palsy, I’ve met extraordinary people.
I’ve become an advocate.
I’ve shared my story through writing.
I’ve encouraged parents, students, educators, and individuals living with disabilities.
Most importantly, cerebral palsy has taught me compassion.
When you’ve experienced struggle yourself, you notice people who are hurting.
You become quicker to encourage.
Slower to judge.
More grateful for ordinary moments.
Those lessons are priceless.
My Greatest Blessing
If I could remove cerebral palsy from my life, would I?
That’s a difficult question.
I would gladly say goodbye to pain, muscle spasms, accessibility barriers, and the physical challenges.
But I would never want to lose the faith, compassion, friendships, perspective, and purpose that have grown because of those challenges.
My life hasn’t been blessed because it’s been easy.
It’s been blessed because God has remained faithful through every chapter.
Cerebral palsy has changed the way I move through the world.
It has also taught me to notice blessings that many people overlook.
For that, I will always be grateful
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