The summer months reinforce my cerebral palsy and think that's why this time of year is a continuous struggle for me. I tend to look out of place because I have a foot drop and because I struggle with my footwear around my cerebral palsy.

When most people are out wearing summer sandals I can’t find sandals to fit, let alone sandals that fit without showing I have a deformity. I hate that. That is then reinforced by the problem itself.

Having struggled with this scenario all my life, you would think I’d be used to it by now. Yesterday was a complete struggle, I wanted to hibernate, but I’m feeling more positive this morning.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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