just found out my friends 8 month old has got CP

[kryso]

i met my friend when i was pregnant an she was about 2 months more gone then me, we short of become friends an now her baby is 8 months old and she has been told by the doc that her baby has CP, what do i do, or what do i say can any one help.

cerebral palsy

Hi, I have 2 children with CP, at 8 months old it is a waiting game to know if the child will walk or not. My DS was walking at 18 months, but my DD1 didn't walk till she was 26 months (the doctors didn't think she would walk)
Her baby is still the beautiful baby she brought home. A good site is \link{http://www.scope.org.uk\scope)
She can claim Disability Living allowence (DLA) and if she doesn't work she can also claim CArers allowence if the baby get middle or high rate care DLA. When the DLA is awarded she needs to inform CTC and WTC as it will give you extra allowences on CTC.
HTH

Sparkly

Apologies for the hijack, but there is a thread with Misdees name on it, can you please put Lockets out of her misery.

\link{http://www.scope.org.uk/\scope}

thank you, you have ben very helpful i will have a look an let my friend know

She might also want to join us here kryso .

My advice would be:

Continue to be a friend and don't treat her child any differently. He/She is still a child above all else.
Allow her to talk about it if she wants to and don't just give platitudes like 'I'm sure X will be fine' - she needs it recognised that this is a BIG thing.

I'm sure I could go on but those are my immediate thoughts!

Sparkly

Am I right in thinking that if higher rate DLA is received, they are automatically entitled to receive a disabled parking blue badge from the council?.

This may be worth looking into as well.

If the child gets high rate mobility you can get a blue badge, but you can only get this at aged 3.

Thanks Sparkly.

Not a problem, funny how your life changes when you have a child with CP, you become an expert on benifits lol :):)

kryso - i do hope that your friend can come on here as she will let loads of info about CP and supports too (plus yourself)

and all you can poss do is to have a good listening ear for your friend too

yes i agree, let your friend talk and she may want to 'grieve' for the child she thought she had, I know i did. My son is 5 and has CP. It's really going to be a waiting game for a while for her which is the hardest thing.

kryso - how is your friend?

i wont see her till 2 morrow, so i will let her know i see if she has the internet

hope she be ok

tell her to come on here scope is good but slow.