“I fight every day for my child’s needs. Today, the world fights with me.”
On World Cerebral Palsy Day, families around the globe come together to celebrate strength, raise awareness, and fight for a more inclusive future. For our very own Erika, one of M Street’s office administrators and the proud mom of Noah, this day carries extraordinary meaning.
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Growing Into Advocacy
Parenting a child with CP has brought Erika both unexpected challenges and surprising growth. She has discovered strength in places she never knew existed, finding her voice in doctors’ offices, developing patience she didn’t know she had, and learning to navigate complex systems on behalf of her son.
What she values most, however, is the shift in perspective. For her family, progress isn’t measured in leaps, but in inchstones. Each small victory is worthy of celebration, a reminder that growth is not linear but deeply meaningful.
Noah’s Quiet Strength
At just four years old, Noah has already faced more medical and physical challenges than many do in a lifetime. Yet resilience radiates from him each day.
“Noah’s greatest strength is his resilience. Each day brings challenges that demand extra time, effort, and support. And yet, through it all, his beautiful smile never fades.”
For Erika, that smile is more than joy, it’s a reminder that resilience doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it shines quietly through determination, patience, and the light in a child’s eyes.
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Seeing Beyond a Diagnosis
Early in the CP journey, Erika reminds families not to let the diagnosis overshadow the child they already know and love. “Your child is the exact same person they were five minutes before you heard the word cerebral palsy. Their smile, their spirit, their potential - it’s all still there.”
It’s a perspective she hopes the broader community will embrace as well. “CP does not affect intelligence. Just because someone moves or communicates differently doesn’t mean they understand less or feel less. My child is not ‘a cerebral palsy kid.’ My child is Noah - bright, silly, strong, and full of life. He doesn’t need to be fixed, just supported and loved.”
Advocacy as Love in Action
For Erika, advocacy has become more than a responsibility, it is a daily act of love. Whether speaking up at IEP meetings, challenging assumptions, or encouraging kindness in small moments, she has learned that advocacy is about both persistence and perspective.
“At its heart, advocacy is love in action. It’s fighting not because my child is broken, but because the world still needs to catch up on how incredible he is.”
Her journey through Illinois’ Early Intervention program, where Noah received physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, developmental therapy, vision therapy, nutrition support, and assistive technology, showed her firsthand how vital these services are. The impact was transformative for her family, and she believes every family deserves that same opportunity.
But with hundreds of children still on EI waitlists, Erika knew she had to act. She joined with other mothers to form Illinois Families for Early Intervention, a nonprofit advocating for timely, equitable access to EI services across the state.
Today, they are mobilizing families and communities through an advocacy campaign in support of the FY27 EI budget.
You can support their work by signing the petition here: Illinois Families for Early Intervention Petition
A Story of Strength and Hope
On this World CP Day, Erika’s journey reminds us that resilience can be quiet, advocacy can be fierce, and love can transform into action. At M Street, we are honored to stand alongside Erika, Noah, and families everywhere who are working toward a more inclusive and accessible world.
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