ConstantlyPositive

Adopted.

It's all perspective.

From an early age, I was taught to focus on the things I was capable of doing instead of my limitations. My adoptive mom was an Occupational Therapist, so I got 24/7 lessons on achieving my own independence. Overall, I've just been very blessed and thank God for everything. There's even positives in my limitations themselves.

Mentally, I'm very impulsive. But having a body that doesn't move as quickly sometimes forces me to think about things a little longer before actually doing something.

I find it less important 'how' I have white parents, but the sociological implications of such. I hardly even think of myself as being adopted. I've been with them since I was 6 days old, as far as anyone treated me, I've always been my parents' son... Just wasn't legally declared until I was 7.

Playing life on hard mode just means I get achievements faster.

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Honestly, it's just like everyone else's life. It is what it is, and I go through it day by day no matter what. Since this is the only life I know, I don't even perceive what I do as 'difficult.'

I'm blessed to have a great support system in my family and friends.

Mine was caused by prenatal exposure to cocaine.

I have spastic hemiplegia. My left side is more affected then my right. I can't straighten out my left arm all the way (loss of 45 degrees) nor can I turn my left hand all the way palm-up (supination) without compensating at the shoulder.

One thing that has helped me the most: I have a Medtronic baclofen pump. (SynchroMed II) It reduces my spasticity and allows me to have more controll over my muscles. I've had one since I was 7, it's been replaced almost as my times... Between the recalls, failures, and revisions - I believe only 2 have gone their entire life cycle. I don't regret it one bit. It's a big part of what allows me to be independent. I couldn't reach my feet to put shoes on before I had one put in. 19 years later, I hardly remember life before having one, but I definitely know what changed afterwards.

I'll submit what I've typed now, and if you've got any more things you'd like me to be specific about, let me know!