Because of my health issues, I’ve had to take myself out of my comfort zone to come to Paris to see Daniel, but I’m glad that I did. It was always my intention to come, but the trip and my many health issues, meant I would go on to have one or two sleepless nights.

A scenario will often play out in our heads countless times before we begin to believe we can do the things we think we can’t. The evening before we were due to leave, my thoughts were filled with trepidation on the journey ahead. Looking back now and on the whole the holiday has turned out to be successful.

Along the way I’ve had my ill moments, but my main priority was to spend time with my family and that’s what driven me, but now I’m happy and ready to go back home. The main thing for me is that I got through it.

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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