Christopher Grant - Gleneagle

Christopher Grant from Gleneagle

Hi, my name is Christopher. I am 19 years of age.

I was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

When I was little I lived an active life with the help of splints on my legs, lots of operations to help with incontinence and a tube in my brain to drain the fluid.

I was a member of my local soccer team and swimming club. I was Dad's right hand man on our family farm and always up to mischief with my two sisters.

When I was 12, I had an acquired brain injury due to complications from a shunt revision. This left me with cerebral palsy and my left side was paralysed.

The next 12 months were a very big battle. I had to learn to eat, walk and talk again.

I overcame various obstacles which were very heartbreaking and hard both for me and my family. During those 12 months I had a lot of outside support from my friends, teachers and my teacher aide who would deliver presents and gifts to me that my classmates had made in school.

My family supported me in every way possible. Mum and dad stayed with me while I was in hospital and then worked with me to get well.

I always knew in my heart that I would be able to do the things that I had done before. I don't walk as well, use my left side or remember what I have to do as well as I did before, but I am still the same person.

I have the same dreams and goals for myself to achieve at sport and public speaking.

I believe I can achieve whatever I want if I put my mind to it. It does help if you have a mum and dad like mine.