My Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

I am a 45 year old male living in Canada. I was diagnosed with CMT at the age of

17 - it explained alot about my years as a child - the uncordination, lack of

physical abilities when it came to sports etc.

I'm married with two children both have been diagnosed as having CMT.

Our daughter like myself has trouble with physical activity at school both in PE

and also with her fine motor skills in her hands - colouring, writing fatigue

etc.

Our son who also has CMT has very little problems - he plays all sports, has no

problems with school work and is doing great! Luckily, his CMT has not created

any limitations for him so far.

Fortunately, our children have had the benefit and support from a Neuromuscular

clinic at the Children's Hospital in the city where we lived. They have helped

out with the schools to ensure our children have Individual Education Plans

(IEP) to address their physical limitations and educate the teachers on how CMT

affects them. We continue with yearly appointments to check on childrens

progress and to address any concerns or problems the are having as a result of

CMT.

A note to those with children who like swim --

Our daughter the swimmer, she has benefitted greatly from the pool, it has

allowed her to excel at a sport, given her self confidence and also been an

excellent form of exercise. She swims competitively and spends six out seven

days at the pool - (a real little dolfin). Her dream is to swim in the olympics

one day.

As she got older, she became discouraged, it was suggested by her coach to be

assessed to see if she qualified as a Swimmer with a disability (SWAD). She was

assesed and found that she qualified as a SWAD for Breast Stroke due to her

inability to do the whip kick.

This qualification means that she now competes against other swimmers with

similiar abilities in breast stroke. Her times now qualify for Provincial and

National standards - she recently competed in the Ontario Provincial swim meet

and won two gold medals in 50 meter and 100 meter Breast Stroke. She was also

invited to swim camp for Swimmers with a disability where she met other children

with varying disablities who have found swimming as a sport they can excel in.

So now her worst stroke in swimming has become her best stroke and her goal now

is to go the 2008 Paralympics.

Any of you with children that swim and have CMT might want to inquire into

having your children assessed it opens up a whole new world for them.

I look forward to reading your postings and can identify with what many of you

go through everyday - I think the more we know the better we can live our lives

and help our children live theirs.

Best to all,

Jim the swim_pop