A personal account of discovering a diagnosis of cerebral palsy at a young age. Informative however moves on from this focus at quite an early stage to giving general advice on wellbeing, self help, spirituality etc as

Since being hit hard by Covid I’ve had a bath nearly every evening and it’s been such a joy to enjoy some me time and some reading. This week I’ve been reading Celebral Palsy - A Story by Ilana Estelle. This isn’t a book I would usually pick up but it’s one I’m really glad I did.

Going into the book I didn’t really know what to expect or even much about cerebral palsy but I learnt so much and related too much of Ilana story and advice. The book is part memoir, part informative and part self help, I truly believe most people would take something useful away from this book. It’s beautifully written and approachable, some parts I flew through others I took my time with and benefitted more from. It is absolutely the perfect book for a long bubble bath.

As a person with cerebral palsy myself, I was very interested in this book. My disability isn't something that I talk about often, except with those closest to me, and I will talk about it if someone asked, but I am always interested to hear about the experiences of others with cerebral palsy. I connected quite deeply with the author's story, and I remember that when I was growing up, I felt as though my disability wasn't properly understood, that there were many misconceptions about it. Parts of this book did make me tearful, but at the same time, I found it uplifting and inspiring. I felt the author expressed herself in a way that enabled everyone to relate to her. This book had a lot of advice on understanding and dealing with cerebral palsy, but it also discussed other disabilities and health issues, as well as offering advice on mental health, boosting self-esteem, and much more. If you have cerebral palsy, or love someone who does, you may enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Ilana Estelle didn't know she had Cerebral Palsy until she was forty-six years old despite all the signs being there when she was a child. As the second born of a pair of premature twins, she also felt somewhat different from the other children her age, even her twin, but could never fully explain why.

In this stunning debut novel, she not only tells her story but enlightens the reader on what it's really like to live with Cerebral Palsy and teach insightful lessons about the resilience of human nature, about body positivity and health awareness.

Part memoir, part informative guide, part motivational story - this unique and striking novel reads in a warm, friendly and familiar voice while still giving us the facts and the truth about a very common health issue that the general public know shockingly little about. Of course every single person is different, and the way any health conditions affect a single person is unique, so by reading just one book a reader can't understand the full scope but Ilana tries to be as inclusive as possible in her writing, both in content and in her easy to follow style.

We feel anger at the discrimination people with CP and other health conditions face, sadness at the treatment and difficulties they live with, frustration at their lack of choices but also hope as Ilanas' positivity shines through each and every page.

Whether you're just looking to learn, or you've been affected by Cerebral Palsy yourself, this will give you a beautiful starting point on your way to understanding.

"I live with Cerebral Palsy but I choose not to be defined by it."

📚Book Review📚

Cerebral Palsy: A Story ‘Finding the Calm After the Storm’
Ilana Estelle

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I was really looking forward to reading this one for a few reasons. Firstly - I had no idea what cerebral palsy involved and was really keen to learn more about the condition - what it means for those with it and how it presents. Secondly - having a son with a long term condition, I thought that I'd find some support in reading a story from an adult perspective, someone who has and still is living with difficulties. I have so much empathy for the author who has lived through her whole childhood and formative years struggling without support from both her parents and medical professionals and not having any idea what was wrong with her. The emotional and mental damage caused is very clearly conveyed throughout the book. I also admire what Ilana has achieved over the last few years. Fighting to find out what was wrong with her, starting her CP diary and writing this book - bringing the condition and her struggles into the limelight, both educating and supporting others. I found the writing style easy to read but felt that I was reading a blog rather than a story. It was also quite repetitive when reading it cover to cover. I think that it would be a perfect companion to keep dipping into and reading (even out of order) bit by bit when needing some insight or support. Overall this book was inspiring, motivational and informative. Huge respect to Ilana for everything she's overcome and achieved so far.

This was such an inspiring read to me as I have cerebral palsy and it is hard to navigate everyday life as it is and I was diagnosed as a baby! To read of Ilana's story of a late diagnosis and her navigation of the world is inspiring to me.

I loved escaping into Ilana’s story about her journey with Cerebral Palsy. Reading this non-fiction book felt like sitting down with an old friend and sharing our stories from life before we knew each other. I so enjoyed getting a glimpse into her life, it’s refreshing to get an adult perspective of someone with a disability, so that I can love the children before me with disabilities better. I hope to pick up more from this author and escape into her storytelling again.