Brain Injury: Encephalopathy, Ataxia, Parapresis, and Cerebral Palsy with spasticity.

Explanation of Mask: I don’t even understand my medical issues. When I was younger I asked my mom, why me?  And my mom told me that everyone has a difficulty, some you can see and some you can’t.  I think my family understands my frustration of all my medical and doctors’ appointments because they have to take me but the community thinks it is worse than it is.  Sometimes they (people in the community) don’t think I can speak for myself.  It may take me awhile to process what they say but I can respond.  I know my mom gets frustrated because people ask me something but I can’t respond in time, then they ask her because she can give a quicker answer.  When I’m in my new environment I don’t talk a lot because I’m scared people will judge me about what I can and can’t do.  My family knows me.  I’m afraid people will make fun of me or talk about me behind my back.  I am NOT my disability.  I am a person inside.  My family knows me but other people treat me different.  Purple and Orange-represent me, my two favorite colors. Yellow is to help those stand out.  ?-Medical professionals don’t know what my medical issues are and I don’t either. We have gotten different names for it but there is no diagnosis really.  They are just going off of symptoms.  Red Scars-I have a lot of scars on my face from falling but I’m still living my life even though I know I can get hurt. I wish people would stop freaking out when I fall.  Clock-I wish others were more patient with me. Patience is a big aspect of this.  Lines on mouth-I’m quiet until I get to know you. It can take me years.  (My brother is the opposite.)  I used to just let people help me the way they thought was best but I’m learning to tell people what I need when I need it.