#World Cerebral Palsy Day

[mindorabydisha]

Rj Mitte has Cerebral Palsy? Understanding Cerebral Palsy: A Psychologist's perspective

- Disha Arunagiri

Counselling Psychologist

Yes, RJ Mitte has cerebral palsy

Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three. He wore casts for six months to straighten his feet and used crutches and leg braces for most of his childhood. Mitte has used his platform to advocate for representation of people with disabilities in the media and arts. He has also sought out acting roles that would educate people about his disability.

Understanding Cerebral Palsy: A Psychologist's perspective

This October 6th was considered as World Cerebral Palsy Day, we join hands globally to raise awareness about cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that affects movement, muscle tone, and posture. It is caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain as it develops, most often before birth. This condition affects individuals differently, with varying degrees of severity. Understanding cerebral palsy is crucial for fostering a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (cp) is a group of disorders that impact a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. The term "cerebral" refers to the brain, and "palsy" refers to weakness or problems with using the muscles. It is the most common motor disability in childhood.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is often caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain. The damage can occur before, during, or shortly after birth. Some potential causes include:

1. Prenatal factors: Infections during pregnancy, maternal health issues, and genetic mutations.

2. Perinatal factors: Complications during labor and delivery, such as lack of oxygen to the brain.

3. Postnatal factors: Early childhood infections, brain injury, or events like strokes.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is classified based on the type of movement disorder involved. The main types include:

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common type, characterized by stiff muscles and awkward movements. It is further categorized based on which limbs are affected.

2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Involves uncontrolled movements, which can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky.

3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Characterized by problems with balance and coordination.

4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Some individuals exhibit symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary greatly among individuals. Common signs include:

- Delays in reaching motor skill milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, or walking.

- Abnormal muscle tone, either too stiff or too floppy.

- Poor coordination and balance.

- Involuntary movements or tremors.

- Difficulty with fine motor skills, like writing or buttoning a shirt.

Diagnosing cerebral palsy involves a combination of medical history, physical exams, and various tests such as MRI or CT scans. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing the condition effectively.

Treatment and Management

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, various treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs and may include:

- Physical Therapy: To improve strength, flexibility, and mobility.

- Occupational Therapy: To assist with daily activities and enhance fine motor skills.

- Speech Therapy: To address communication challenges.

- Medications: To manage muscle spasticity and other symptoms.

- Surgery: In some cases, to correct physical abnormalities and improve function.

Despite these challenges, individuals with CP often lead fulfilling lives with the right support and resources.

As a psychologist, the focus is often on the mental and emotional well-being of individuals with CP, as well as their families. Understanding the psychological impact of CP is crucial in providing comprehensive support and fostering an inclusive society.

Psychological Impact on Individuals with CP

1. Emotional Well-being: Living with CP can sometimes lead to feelings of frustration, isolation, or anxiety, especially if there is a lack of understanding or support from society. It's important to acknowledge these emotions and provide spaces where individuals can express and manage their feelings.

2. Self-esteem and Identity: The visible nature of CP can affect self-esteem, particularly during formative years. Positive reinforcement, inclusive environments, and highlighting strengths and abilities are essential in building a strong sense of self.

3. Social Relationships: Forming and maintaining relationships can be challenging due to physical limitations or societal stigma. Encouraging social interactions and providing inclusive opportunities for engagement can help build meaningful connections.

Supporting Families of Individuals with CP

Families play a crucial role in the lives of individuals with CP. They often face their own set of challenges, including emotional stress, financial strain, and the need for continuous caregiving. Psychological support for families can include:

1. Counseling and Therapy: Professional guidance can help families navigate the emotional landscape of raising a child with CP, providing coping strategies and emotional support.

2. Support Groups: Connecting with other families in similar situations can provide a sense of community and shared understanding. These groups can be a source of practical advice and emotional solidarity.

3. Educational Resources:Providing families with information about CP, available therapies, and adaptive technologies can empower them to make informed decisions and advocate effectively for their loved ones.

Promoting Inclusion and Awareness

On World Cerebral Palsy Day, it’s vital to emphasize the importance of inclusion and awareness. Here are some steps we can take:

1. Education: Educate ourselves and others about CP to dispel myths and reduce stigma. Awareness campaigns and educational programs in schools and workplaces can promote understanding and acceptance.

2. Advocacy: Support policies and initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion. Advocacy can lead to improved services, better accessibility, and greater recognition of the rights of individuals with CP.

3. Community Involvement: Encourage community activities that are inclusive of individuals with CP. Participation in sports, arts, and social events can provide a sense of belonging and achievement.

Cerebral palsy is just one aspect of a person’s identity. By understanding the psychological impact and providing comprehensive support, we can help individuals with CP lead empowered, fulfilling lives. On this World Cerebral Palsy Day, let’s commit to raising awareness, promoting inclusion, and supporting the mental and emotional well-being of those affected by CP. Together, we can build a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive.

I hope this helps everyone to educated about Cerebral Palsy. Thank you for reading.

Disha Arunagiri

Counselling Psychologist

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DM for free 30 minutes consultation

[alittlebitbethany]

Hi everybody I’ve posted a new #youtubevideo on my channel in honour of @worldcpday today. Please check it out it would mean a lot to me.

Image Description: a screenshot of a #youtube video featuring a picture photo of a #blythedoll with Green eyes , wearing a green sleeveless shirt mini dress and White go-go boots. The text reads BC’s Doll Place: Happy World Cerebral Palsy Day 2023( With Subtitles). #cerebralpalsy #worldcerebralpalsyday #worldcpday #worldcpday2023 #disability #dollphotography #blythe #blythedolls #blythedollsofinstagram #green #dollcollector #dollcollecting #takaratomy #neoblythe

[cripvideoproductions]

World Cerebral Palsy Day 2023

Today is World Cerebral Palsy Day. Happy World Cerebral Palsy Day 2023 from Crip Video Productions! On October 2nd I(Margot Cole) gave a talk to a bunch of education majors about disability advocacy. We discussed how advocacy can impact someone’s life. We discussed the meaning of internalized ableism. We discussed “A Stroke Of Endurance” and the character Ava’s anxiety which lead to a discussion of how mental health and physical health are inter related. Some students shared their disability experience of listening to their body. We discussed best practices for paraprofessionals. 

On October 5th, I I(Margot Cole) gave a talk to a biology class involving disability and populations and screened the film “Crips Not Creeps” and the audience was very interested in what inspired me to write the film “Crips Not Creeps” particularly the false accusation plot.

We have had more production meetings with Mary Lynn Navarro and Dylan Rothbein about our upcoming documentary CUNY collaboration “What The Body Believes”.  

This post is posted with permission. 

[laufeysons-edits]

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[stardreamer28]

Happy World Prematurity Day !! I was a 26 week preemie surviving twin in 1989. not much was known back then around my disability and doctors didn't think I'd survive or do much but my mom learned everything she could from the college medical library & talking to nurses and here I am at 34 living as independantly as I can with the skills she taught me :)

[mahmoud0qassas]

We have become ashamed of ourselves as we publish a fundraising campaign, to help us and save my family

We have great hope for you, and that you will help my large family, which consists of 42 members of my family

Did you know that my brother has special conditions, and has had complete quadriplegic cerebral palsy since birth? He is 31 years old and has been lying on his back all his life and does not move, and he has not harmed anyone since his birth.

My daughter dreams of living in safety like any child in the world, and our women who are exhausted by this fierce war on Gaza.

We hope for you. Donate generously now, because if the army withdraws from Rafah, we will be able to travel as quickly as possible and not wait any longer, because our lives are very difficult.

Share the post so the world can see how we live

Donate generously, and Allah will give you better and more abundant things

My brothers, we do not want to embarrass you, so share a blog post every day: @fairuzfan @sar-soor @plomegranate @fallahifag @vakarians-babe @ibtisams @ibtisams-blog @palestine @gazikacmislaflar @90-ghost

[brandileigh2003]

Wolfstar fic recs featuring disability, chronic illness, chronic pain, or characters who are deaf or blind

**please feel free to drop your own fic or recs in comments and I'll add.

~~~please give these authors love, comments and interaction means more than you know. ~~

orange juice (i've been ready for you to come home for so long) by raggedypond divorced wolfstar get back together, flashbacks to remus getting diagnosis, breakup, and Sirius dealing with alcoholism. Raising teddy. Hea.

-love finds a way by littleoldrachel: Jurassic Park exes to lovers

-the sea is a good place to think of the future by peachyybabe: @lavenderhaze get back together, raising teddy, the second has mcd but if you just read first you can pretend he's ok? (I know I have friends who don't touch mcd with 10ft pole)

-(really you can't go wrong with any of peachyybabe, disability, chronic illness and/or mental health/illness in all.

-Forget the World by @amberlink mcd. Sirius is a surgeon, saves remus' life and they marry for insurance. But ofc fall in love along the way as Remus' heart gets worse. this was so good and explored brief as well

-my jokes are my armour, my kindness is my sword by @littleoldrachel remus owns flower shop and meets the gang (seizures and chronic pain

-Like Real People Do by third_crow coffee shop au, also sirius raising harry. So good.

-Tender is the touch (of someone that you love too much) by @purplefiction-ao3 remus has heart condition, written by person with chronic illness themselves

-Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations by TheQueerTailor Sixth year has just started and Remus is barely keeping up. He's just sixteen but it feels like his body is falling apart.

-heat and balance by @eyra also interesting look into Sirius dual role of partner and caregiver

-We’ll Make It Out Alive by wolfstar_addict417 texting fic, raising teddy

-the mayors of simpleton by fruity_individual get back together, remus is blind, raising teddy

-Found Heaven by fierrochase fluffy text fic, so cute together

-Black's Anatomy by @grasslesss greys anatomy fic, remus has lupus

-The Sickness Unto Death by oliverdalstonbrowning university au, remus has cystic fibrosis

-Of Bookshelves and Baby Carriers by @poppunkpadfoot bookshop au, sirius raising harry

-My Only Sunshine by Loua29xx: remus had cancer. Mcd

- Young Blood by viwrites @just--vi road trip au, jegulus main, remus has heart condition (I've been told the 2nd focus more on wolfstar, haven't gotten there yet)

-I Don't Care if My Heart Breaks by orphan_account: bookshop au, remus has cerebral palsy

-Be silent like deep water by @her-smile-forges-galaxies remus is deaf

-Give Me A Sign by@theresthesnitch soulmate fic, remus is deaf. Wip

-Kill Your Darlings by MesserMoon: @sophsicle jegulus main but remus is deaf. Hockey and University au

-Signs of Affection by KittyCargo: remus is deaf, teacher asl

-For the Love of Ducks by viwrites Remus has heart condition

-a lot of Lucigoo89 feature in some way. @lucigoo this is a great example- Finding my fate in the sensory room

-Sweets and Books by Writer_INFJ_2w1: bookshop au, chronic pain

- feel what its like to be new by peachyybabe: boarding school au, sirius is blind

-Rarer Than One in a Million by Sp00nhater wolfstar is so soft and sweet, meet in hospital

-one shot: Another New Potion? by depressed_and_nauseous

-wip: bite the hand by raggedypond: zombie apocalypse

-The Language of Flowers by B1ackCatChatsBack Remus has ra, flower shop

-Good Old Fashioned Lover Boys by Hell_Again: bakery au

-Casimir Pulaski Day by breadpoetssociety: cancer, mcd

-Forever Is a State of Mind by orphan_account (deaf remus)

-Living Like We're Renegades by orphan_account (hoh remus, university)

-Mile High by quidditery chronic pain

-this is not a temporary love (now my heart is in your hands) by littleoldrachel (pining, abandoned as far as I know, but worth it!!!)

-I Didn't Come Here to Party, I Only Came for the Cake by attheendoftheday gbbo Remus with fibromyalgia

-Six Feet Apart by Belle_Lestrange101 pandemic fic, Remus has hiv

-Beyond the Heartbeat by bizarrestars: ultimately a story about grief of regulus, with the middle soft wolfstar falling in love. Remus and illness is featured.

-Small Bones of Courage by Anonymous mcd, please read tags, sensitive topics. Later in life lycanthropy is terminal for remus.

-Fractured Skies by orphan_account coffee shop fic, Sirius is deaf, Remus has epilepsy

-as it was by peachyybabe A story about falling in love with a stranger in a bookstore and learning how to live again.

-An Infinte Ocean orphan_account: teddy has cf, Sirius is amputer

-Blind Werewolf McWolf by orphan_account Remus is blind

-Message from Seat 25A by PleaseDonateBlood 1 shot lupus

-if you were a waiting room. by beaniesandblackcoffee

-Time May Change Me by Kaymardsa lupus

-Underneath It All by Kaymardsa: seizures, texting fic

-i don't want to be your muse by yellowmarshmallow muggle asexual remus with chronic fatigue syndrome

-waiting room by haey1

-Remus lupins guide on how to (not) become a quidditch seeker by Girl_rotting

-Physiotherapy by @missmoonfrost Sirius helping remus see his body and therapy in another light

***all of my fics have disability or chronic illness rep two of my faves: silence between us (deaf remus + disability) and inevitable (cancer, mcd)**

These are prb widely known but...

-Highland Fling [+podfic] by @picascribitremus has lupus. They meet when Sirius is backpacking

-Text Talk by merlywhirls: Sirius is in boarding school, Remus is in hospital, and they don't know each other until Sirius texts the wrong number.

-Blends by rvltn909 coffee shop (sequel names goes into it a lot more)

-A Cup of Sugar by MsAlexWP: both harry and remus disabled

-Discards by picascribit read tags , sensitive subjects: remus has hiv

-A Wolf's Heart by mizdiz : meet in bookshop, remus has heart problems, mcd

-Problems with Narrative Structure and the Rules of Manly Engagement by @xinasvoice : get together fic, remus is an author has fibromyalgia

@just--vi did a tiktok video with these mentioned too that I forgot (give her some love)

-A Wolf, A Bear, A Dungeon Master, and Boy Wonder by ratmom819

-Forever is Definitely Punk Rock by orphan_account (lupus)

-Put Your Head on My Shoulder by jennandblit

-Sunshine on Leith by eyra

Spoons and Stars by Chlobliviate (Rec from glittery-grandma) chronic fatigue and pain, wolfstar in uni

Others who sent me recs:

With different eyes by Shadowmun: blind Sirius is a seer. (haven't read this but def it's on my list) Also check out ao3 or tumblr there are some others that aren't wolfstar @mundrakan

---feel free to check it my main rec list

I shall also direct you to some lists by the @wolfstarlibrarian I'm sure there is some in common but they also have more one shots that I unfortunately usually don't track for the most part (this is amazing account, and not mine, but give them lots of love)

Wolfstar + Chronic Pain, Wolfstar w/Disabilities, Deafness, & Blindness, Wolfstar Hospital AUs, Sick Fic Oneshots, Terminally/Chronically Ill Remus Fics

••new additions

-Finding Warmth by Moony (adashofinspiration): deaf remus and blind Sirius

•As I Held My Breath by moodymoony103, niffler934 (82k) modern get together, teacher remus, Sirius raising regulus' daughter

From tbr: •amicus curiae by femme_de_lettres: wip au law students

•Becoming Remus this Christmas by mybelovedmoon (wip, chronic pain ft trans remus

•Petit pas by Curiosities: ballet au, Remus injured in accident

•maybe time running out is a gift by messrsrarchives (wip, mcd) cancer

[moons-and-mobility-aids]

Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight | Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen | Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Nineteen | Chapter Twenty | Chapter Twenty-One | Chapter Twenty-Two | Chapter Twenty-Three | Chapter Twenty-Four | Chapter Twenty-Five | Chapter Twenty-Six | Chapter Twenty-Seven

Content Warnings: Adult content, mostly accurate depictions of being an onlyfans creator (hi, I am one), reader is fem, uses a wheelchair, and has cerebral palsy. Taglist: @alohastitch0626, @jspidey5, @laceandsuch, @kneelforloki

The morning sun is just starting to rise, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold. The streets are quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a waking bird. It's the kind of morning that promises a good day—a day of laughter, creativity, and perhaps a little bit of chaos.

And, of course, breakfast.

"Should we head to the café?" Remus suggests, breaking into the comfortable silence.

"Definitely," Sirius agrees, already heading in the direction of their favourite spot. "I could go for some bacon."

James grins at that, his own stomach rumbling in agreement. There's something about a good breakfast that sets the tone for the rest of the day—something comforting and familiar in the routine of it all.

The three men make their way down the street, each lost in their own thoughts yet connected by the shared anticipation of the meal ahead. They've been coming to this small café for years, long before they started creating content together, back when life was simpler and their biggest worry was what coffee to order. Now, it's more than just food—it's tradition, a place where they can escape from the pressures of work and enjoy the simple pleasures of a hot drink and good company.

Sirius pushes open the door, the bell above jingling softly as they step inside. The café is small but cozy, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the sizzle of bacon on the grill. Wooden tables are scattered throughout the room, each one worn smooth by years of use, telling silent stories of the countless customers who have sat there before.

"Good morning, boys," calls out the owner, a warm smile lighting up her face. She's an older woman, her grey hair pulled back into a neat bun, lines crinkling around her eyes—the telltale signs of a life well-lived. "Your usual table?"

"Of course, Helen," Sirius replies with a nod, steering them towards the farthest booth from the entrance—a tacit acknowledgement of their need for both privacy and proximity to the window's view of the outside world.

James slides into the seat across from him, stomach already growling in anticipation of the full English breakfast he knows is coming. Remus is quieter, as he often is, but there's a contentment in his posture as he settles next to Sirius. It's in these stolen moments that they remember why they've remained tethered through the decades. Despite the whirlwind of their lives, they find solace in the predictability of this routine.

James is the first to scan the room, his gaze passing over the familiar faces of fellow customers. Then, something—or rather, someone—catches his eye. Someone he knows, yet doesn't really know. Someone who looks ordinary enough but stirs a sense of familiarity that halts his casual perusal.

It's you.

There you sit, huddled at a small table by the window, a steaming cup of coffee in front of you and a book open in your lap. You're not drawing attention to yourself, but there's a quiet intensity about you that draws James in. He observes you for a moment longer than he intends, trying to reconcile this real-life image with the girl they've all come to fancy through their online interactions.

"Oi, isn't that...?" James starts, his voice barely above a whisper. He nudges Sirius with his elbow, nodding subtly towards your direction.

Sirius follows his line of sight, eyebrows lifting as recognition dawns on him. "No fucking way," he murmurs under his breath, leaning in closer to get a better look.

"What is it?" Remus asks, a crease forming between his brows as he looks between the two of them, trying to decipher the unspoken words hanging in the air.

"Look," Sirius says, his voice low but insistent. He nods subtly towards you, not daring to make his observation too obvious.

Remus' gaze shifts, landing on you. For a moment, all three of them are silent, their attention riveted by the sight before them. There's no denying it — it's you. They've seen your face countless times in videos, photos, scrolling through your OnlyFans page late into the night. But seeing you here, in flesh and blood, is an entirely different experience.

You're oblivious to their scrutiny, too engrossed in the novel that lies open on the table before you. Your fingers trace the rim of your coffee cup absently, a small smile playing on your lips as you immerse yourself in the story. Every so often, you glance at your phone, tapping out a quick message before returning to the pages of your book.

The image you present is so different from the one they know from online. There, you are bold and alluring, a siren drawing them in with each new post. But here, in the soft light of the café, you seem almost... normal. Relaxed. Grounded. It's a side of you they haven't seen before, and it only adds to the allure.

Their eyes meet, a silent communication passing between them. What's the protocol here? Do they introduce themselves, lay their cards on the table? It's not as if they can just saunter up and say, "Hey, we're your biggest fans and have been jerking off to your porn whenever we get the chance." The thought alone is enough to make Sirius stifle a snort behind his hand.

But that's not entirely accurate anymore, is it? Yes, they've watched you, admired you from afar, but these past few weeks have added another dimension to it all. They've been chatting with you, getting to know you beyond the persona you project on screen. There's an odd sense of familiarity now, a pseudo-friendship formed in the ether of cyberspace. But does that really count for anything?

"She's here" James's voice is hushed, almost reverent, as if he can't quite believe it. "In the flesh and everything."

"Blimey," Sirius murmurs, his own eyes wide with disbelief. "But we can't just march up to her, can we?"

Remus, always the voice of reason, shakes his head. "Absolutely not. We don't even know if she wants to be recognised. And besides, we are... well, us. She has no idea what we look like in person."

A silence stretches between them, punctuated only by the occasional clink of cutlery against porcelain. Their gazes remain trained on you, trying to reconcile the image before them with the one they've built over countless messages and video calls.

For a moment, James is struck by how ordinary the scene appears—a woman sipping coffee at a café, engrossed in a book. It's so far removed from how he's imagined meeting you; in his mind, you've always been larger than life, someone who commands attention with every word typed, every photo shared. But here, you're simply... human.

You take another sip of your coffee, your eyes still focused on the pages in front of you. Then, slowly, your gaze drifts to the window, watching the world outside with an almost peaceful expression. James notices the way your fingers gently trace the edge of the page, the slight upturn of your lips as if something you read amuses you. It's disconcerting, seeing you like this—almost vulnerable, stripped of the online bravado that defines your presence.

"What do we do now?" Sirius murmurs, breaking the silence.

James shakes his head, still watching you. "We do nothing. We sit here and pretend we don't know her."

"Yeah," Remus concurs, his gaze thoughtful. "She's not on working right now, and neither are we."

"Right," Sirius says, though there's a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But it's kind of funny, isn't it? How she has no idea who's sitting right here."

A soft chuckle escapes James. "Yeah," he admits, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's almost surreal."

The waitress approaches, and the boys try not to glance in your direction as they give their orders, keeping their voices steady despite the adrenaline coursing through their veins. They request three full English breakfasts, steaming mugs of coffee to chase away the last vestiges of sleep. As they settle back into the booth, there's a palpable charge in the air that has nothing to do with the caffeine they're about to consume. Your presence has thrown them off-kilter, made this ordinary morning anything but.

Even as they wait for their meals, they steal glances at you, watching as you put down your book and pull out your phone, swiping through messages with an ease that suggests familiarity. You cradle your coffee mug with one hand, sipping occasionally as you navigate your digital world. The sound of your voice carries over when you thank the waitress when she brings you a fresh coffee, and the boys' breath hitches collectively. It's the first time they've heard you speak outside of your videos, and although it's just a simple exchange, it feels like a glimpse behind the curtain.

"Do you reckon she'd recognise our voices?" Sirius wonders aloud, his tone half-jesting but with a thread of genuine curiosity woven in.

James shakes his head, the movement small and measured. "We don't know if she's even watched our videos, let alone paid enough attention to our voices. And when we do speak, it's... different. You don't sound the same shagging as you do ordering a coffee."

"Exactly," Remus chimes in, his voice a low rumble. "Besides, we've never had a normal conversation with her. It's always been through a screen, one way or another."

Silence descends once more, an unbroken canvas stretched between them. Each of them carries their own thoughts and questions, layers of complexity added to the simple act of observation. They watch you, your fingers dancing over the screen of your phone, your expression relaxed yet focused. You're close enough to touch, yet worlds apart, separated not by physical distance but by the invisible lines that define reality.

Your presence is like a shadow cast across their day, tangible in its weight yet formless. Can you feel them there, watching? Or are you too engrossed in your own world to notice the prickle of attention at the back of your neck?

It's a strange sensation for them—this proximity without connection. They know you, or at least the version of you that exists within the confines of their shared experience. They've seen sides of you most people never will. But they don't really know you, do they? They don't know the sound of your laughter, the way you take your coffee, or the titles of the books that line your shelves. And right now, that chasm of unknowing feels both exhilarating and maddening.

"Any idea what she's reading?" Sirius murmurs, leaning closer to James. His eyes flicker to the book resting beside you, its title obscured from view.

James shrugs, his focus shifting from you to the tome as if he might discern its secrets from afar. "No clue. It's a hefty one, though. She must be quite into it."

Remus chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Who would've thought?"

"Thought what?" Sirius's brows furrow, curiosity piqued.

"That she'd be into books," Remus clarifies, his fingers tracing the rim of his teacup. "I mean, we usually only see her in action, right? Not quiet like this."

"Exactly," James concurs, his gaze still fixed on you—on the way your eyes dance over each line, the slight furrow in your brow indicating concentration, the serene aura that seems so different from the fierce warrior they know. "But that's why it's interesting, isn't it? Seeing her like this. Different."

The food arrives, and for a while, they're silent, focusing on their meal. But it's evident their minds are elsewhere—on you, just across the room. From the corner of their eyes, they watch as you turn a page in your book or take a sip from your coffee cup. You seem completely oblivious to their presence, and there's something oddly comforting about that. It feels like they can observe you without any pressure, without any expectations.

For them, it's strange to see you now, living and breathing beyond the screen where they know you best. They're used to seeing you in carefully curated posts, through the lens of your camera. Now, they're starting to realize how much they don’t know about you—and how much more there is to learn. What else do you do when you're not filming or posting? What makes you laugh, and what keeps you up at night? And, most importantly, what are the quiet moments in your life like—the ones just like this?

Even after their plates are emptied, the three men linger at the table, held in place by the tantalising presence of you across the room. It's a morning unlike any they've had before; what was supposed to be a simple meal at their usual café has turned into an unexpected encounter that has both thrilled and disoriented them.

James pushes his plate away and leans back in his chair, studying you, who remains oblivious to their scrutiny. "You know," he murmurs, careful not to draw attention, "I always wondered what she does when she's not filming. And here she is, having coffee and reading a book. Seems so... normal."

"Exactly," Sirius agrees, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. His eyes, too, are on you, taking in the mundane details that suddenly seem fascinating. "We never really think about it, do we? Everyone has a life outside of work, even her. But for us, it's been all about the films, hasn't it? Seeing this feels like... peeking behind a curtain or something."

Remus, who has remained quiet for most of the morning, nods, a thoughtful expression on his face. He's been watching you too, observing from a distance with that steady, calming presence of his. "It serves as a reminder," he begins, his voice low yet clear, "that there's more to a person than what they project to the world. We've seen her confidence, her humour, her creativity... but those are just facets of a much larger, more complex picture."

The conversation lulls, the words hanging heavy in the air. They've all watched you before—watched you bring their fantasies to life, listened to your teasing commentary, admired your skill—but now, seeing you in this mundane setting, they're reminded of how little they truly know of you. You're not just a face on the screen, but a woman with thoughts, dreams, and experiences wholly separate from the world they thought they understood.

And somehow, that realisation is both unsettling and deeply reassuring.

James's gaze flicks back to you, and his brows furrow in confusion. There's something different—something he can't quite pinpoint, but it compels him to pay closer attention. He watches as your hand moves subtly along the armrest of your chair, fingers tracing the edges of your book.

"Wait a minute," James murmurs, leaning forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "That's not a regular chair."

It's a detail that might have escaped anyone else's notice, but James has always had an eye for the things left unsaid—the subtleties others might overlook. Now, understanding dawns on him. You're sitting in a wheelchair, not an ordinary seat.

The revelation hits him with a soft thud of surprise, not because it changes anything, but because he hadn't known, hadn't even considered the possibility. You've never mentioned it in your posts, never hinted at it in your messages. It's a silent part of your life, a reality you live with that has remained unspoken until now.

James doesn't say anything at first, just taps Sirius's arm and tilts his head slightly towards you.

Sirius follows the path of James's stare, eyes landing on your wheelchair. "Oh," he says, voice nearly a whisper, carrying just far enough to reach their small huddle. "I didn’t know."

"Neither did I," James admits, his voice matching the quiet intensity of the moment.

Remus turns, his expression unreadable as he absorbs the new information. "She’s never mentioned it. But then again, why would she?"

"Yeah." Sirius’s reply is barely audible, his focus still on you from the corner of his eye. "It’s just... you don’t always think about what people might be dealing with."

The conversation drops to a lull, the weight of their discovery hanging heavy in the air around them. It doesn't change anything, not really — they've admired your spirit, your beauty, your sense of fun from afar. But now, seeing this other part of your story, it adds depth to their understanding of who you are. There's more to you than the snippets of life shared online, and the realization leaves them silent, contemplative.

Remus's voice is quiet, thoughtful. "She doesn't let it show," he finally says, "In her videos, she's always so composed, so in control. It makes sense why she'd want to keep this part of her life hidden."

James nods, slow and understanding. "Yeah, I can see that. But... I don't know, I kind of like knowing. It makes her feel more real, somehow."

Sirius, who has been studying you with a peculiar intensity, smiles faintly. "I think I get what you mean, Prongs. It doesn't change anything, really, but it adds another layer to her, doesn't it? Another piece of the puzzle."

The three of them fall silent again, each lost in their own contemplation. It feels as though they're viewing you through a different lens now, not just as the woman they admire from afar, but as someone with her own battles, her own resilience. And in some strange way, that knowledge draws them closer to you, as though they've been granted access to something deeply personal, something innately human.

Your focus is entirely on the book in front of you, your fingers occasionally moving to type something into your phone before returning to the pages. There's a tranquillity about you that they find captivating, even though they know this moment is not meant for them. But they're content to watch from afar, stealing glances when they think you won't notice.

The waitress finally brings their bill, and the bubble bursts as they begin to gather their things. James takes one last look at you, watching as you absentmindedly take a sip of your coffee, oblivious to their presence. He contemplates saying something, perhaps introducing himself, but he knows better. This is your sanctuary, and they are merely passing through.

As they rise to leave, Sirius throws one final glance over his shoulder. A small smile plays at the corners of his mouth. "Funny, isn't it?" he murmurs more to himself than to anyone else as they make their way toward the door.

James raises an eyebrow, following his friend's gaze back to your table. "What's funny?"

"Being this close to her," Sirius replies, his voice barely above a whisper, "and yet so far away."

Remus nods, glancing back at the café one last time. "Yeah, but we're learning more about her, slowly but surely."

James doesn't respond, but he knows Remus is right. There's no need for haste—not when they're playing the long game. They'll continue to observe from the shadows, piecing together the puzzle that is you. Each interaction, each text, another fragment added to the picture. And for now, they leave you to your morning, a comforting presence just beyond the horizon of your awareness.

[eeveeas123]

🦓❤️

Okay, autism is an every single day challenge, being autistic often means we’re extremely sensitive to things in our environments (External factors) and even things in our own minds/bodies (Internal factors). Sometimes this makes us uncomfortable to the point where we snap! Thinking “If I weren’t autistic, this wouldn’t be happening!”. I decided to tell you guys, what I LIKE about being autistic today! Rather than just my challenges:

🦓Having my autism service dog. Eevee has changed my life (And so has my previous service dogs, River and Viva). She’s able to calm me down with just a few kisses (Licks). I wouldn’t have met any of my pup friends if I wasn’t autistic because I wouldn’t have a service dog

🦓My “Autistic joy”. I can see the world in a way that makes some specific little things fill me with happiness! Stimming with something as simple as running water, tapping buttons or waving my hands, I feel very happy experiencing something that most wouldn’t even notice. Also, I can watch the same videos over and over because they’re never boring to me! I love collecting videos to watch at any time. Pokémon amplifies this by 100% (My special interest)

🦓My neurodivergent friends. I was in special education for middle school and high school. I wouldn’t have met my wonderful classmates teachers, educational assistants, etc. if I wasn’t autistic! Some were Down syndrome, some were cerebral palsy, some were autistic like me and many more. I’m so glad I met them! Good times!

🦓My imagination. I love creating stories by writing and it really is my purpose! I can almost live a fictional situation/scene inside my head and make something out of that. Most of my stories are based on my experiences (My main character is often autistic too!). I’m not saying a non-autistic person can’t write a good book, I just think I provide a fresh perspective!

Hopefully that makes you feel a bit better about being autistic, maybe take some time to reflect on these things and see if you feel them too!

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"—but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Trespassers will be turned to stone

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary is one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite . . .

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, powerful forces of evil are unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives, to save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world.

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on 28 September 1330. Nearly seven hundred years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty and Nicholas Flamel lives. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. And that's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

Out of My Mind by Shannon Draper

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom - the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she's determined to let everyone know it - somehow.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives' stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit's friendship with the "witch" is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!

Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale

She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste.

Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. And when she was older, she watched as a colt was born, and she heard the first word on his tongue, his name, Falada.

From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original, and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own.

Fudge by Judy Blume

Life with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing mashed potatoes on the walls at Hamburger Heaven, or trying to fly, he's never far from trouble. He's an almost three-year-old terror who gets away with everything, and Peter's had it up to here! When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, it's the last straw. Peter has put up with Fudge for too long. Way too long! How can he get his parents to pay attention to him for a change?

Bartimaeus by Jonathan Stroud

Nathaniel is a boy magician-in-training, sold to the government by his birth parents at the age of five and sent to live as an apprentice to a master. Powerful magicians rule Britain, and its empire, and Nathaniel is told his is the "ultimate sacrifice" for a "noble destiny."

If leaving his parents and erasing his past life isn't tough enough, Nathaniel's master, Arthur Underwood, is a cold, condescending, and cruel middle-ranking magician in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The boy's only saving grace is the master's wife, Martha Underwood, who shows him genuine affection that he rewards with fierce devotion. Nathaniel gets along tolerably well over the years in the Underwood household until the summer before his eleventh birthday. Everything changes when he is publicly humiliated by the ruthless magician Simon Lovelace and betrayed by his cowardly master who does not defend him.

Nathaniel vows revenge. In a Faustian fever, he devours magical texts and hones his magic skills, all the while trying to appear subservient to his master. When he musters the strength to summon the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus to avenge Lovelace by stealing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, the boy magician plunges into a situation more dangerous and deadly than anything he could ever imagine.

Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.

Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.

Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows - does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess.

Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.

[lonniemachin]

Ahmed reached out to me to help spread his fundraiser. He is urgently attempting to raise money to evacuate his displaced 7-person family, including his parents, wife, and brothers, from Gaza to Egypt and gain access to necessities of survival. He has only made kr111,012 out of his kr350,000 goal so far! Please share and donate, and if you can't donate, please still share!

From Ahmed's GFM:

please note

conversion rate is (100 USD = 700 DDK)

Dear compassionate supporters,

I extend my heartfelt plea to you, driven by the urgency of the dire situation my family faces in the chaos of Gaza, a war-torn region. I am Ahmed Shamia, a fourth year student of application development, I come to you seeking your generous support to evacuate my beloved 7 family members from the hazardous conditions we currently endure in Gaza and relocate us to safety in Egypt.

Meet my remarkable family:

Parents:

Dad : A skilled social service employee and has many international certificates.

Mom : The heart of our family, A lovely teacher.

Me and my wife: a nice couple the war destroyed our dreams to be a nice family.

My sick brother Yasser : who has cerebral palsy and need an immediate care.

My middle brother Mahmoud : who have a big dream to complete his study.

My little brother omar: he also have a big dreams to study like every child in the world.

Shortly after the war started, our house was bombed, and we’ve since been displaced more than four times and lost all of our money. Our only hope of restoring some semblance of normal life is to evacuate. For over 170 days, we’ve lacked basic necessities. Among other things, we lack access to clean water, medicine, healthcare, and gas for cooking.

The Urgent Situation:

my family suffers of displacement and inability to care my older brother, who has cerebral palsy and cannot eat even his food. He eats it with difficulty because of problems in his lungs, and he now needs care and treatment. The medicines have become severed and his condition deteriorates day after day so that he does not know the taste of sleep because of the disease.

As I write you, the Israeli army’s planned invasion of Rafah grows ever closer. We have lost everything we’d worked so hard to earn and build, and now have no place to go. ‏Your support and solidarity will give us a fighting chance of surviving and building our lives anew.

Financial Details:

Travel company (YA HALH) costs $5,000 for people over 18.

And $2,500 for people under the age of 18.

A total of $30,000 to evacuate the Shamia family from Gaza to Egypt.

And $10,000 to cover the care expenses of Yasser Mohamed Shamia, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

And an additional $10,000 to cover the cost of living and basic family needs.

Thank you for your kindness during this challenging time. Your support is crucial in this humanitarian endeavor.

any additional donations will go for their survival in Egypt and their return when war ends.

Gratefully,

Ahmed

[cripplecharacters]

Hello! I hope you having a good day, I just had a question that I hope is ok.

Is there any condition that would make it difficult to walk long distances (sometimes using a wheel chair, sometimes crutches) but doesn't affect the hands/arms at all? I'm working on a concept for a character and was wondering about making him an ambulatory wheelchair user since it's not something I see often in stories, but he's also a musician mainly playing stringed instruments and I don't want that to become painful for him.

But I wasn't sure if that was something that could exist and I wouldn't want to write it that way if it's not

Hello lovely asker!

So here is a list of conditions that don't (or sometimes don't) affect the upper body and can be ambulatory conditions.

Conditions that physically effect the lower back/legs:

Lower extremity amputation

Congenital lower body differences - Foot, ankle, knee etc. (Club Foot, Miserable malalignment syndrome etc.)

Sacral Agenesis

Monoplegia

Leg injuries

Cartilage Damage/Injuries

Spina Bifida

Arthritis

Incomplete Paraplegia

Leg length difference

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Multiple Sclerosis

Hypermobility

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

Complex regional pain syndrome

Conversion disorder

Brain Based Disorders:

Epilepsy (drop epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsy etc)

Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Narcolepsy (often with cataplexy)

Chiari malformation

FND

PANDAS

Tourettes/tic disorders

Autoimmune Encephalitis

Heart/Respiratory/other etc.:

Vertigo/POTS/other conditions that cause syncope/dizziness

Respiratory Conditions (COPD, etc)

Heart Conditions

Conditions that affect balance/increase fall risk

Post polio (and other diseases)

Psychosomatic Paralysis/Pain/other ailments

This is just a rough list of what we could all come up with, there are many others that have gone forgotten, but that's for you the writer to do more research on too. One thing is a few of these conditions can affect the hands or eventually progress to effecting the hands, arms, and/or even the upper or lower back.

Depending on what type of instrument they play will also factor in. Playing posture is different with every instrument, as well as the weight. And some instruments like the Viola Da gamba does require leg strength. If the character is classically trained also, it makes a difference in etiquette. I am (was technically) classically trained and if you have pain of any kind you're told it doesn't matter, you're told to play through the pain and keep going. To suffer for your art is still the prevalence in the classical world. Excruciating pain? Keep going. Cut open your finger on something? Keep going. It's not good, but it is the reality of it, unfortunately.

Also I will mention that don't be afraid to choose another condition that does affect the character's upper body. A lot of disabled musicians have a variety of conditions and simply exist and play music. But also even though the character might have a condition that mainly affects the legs, if pain is common with the condition you choose, this still will affect the character playing. Being in pain even if it's not in your arms or back can be very distracting and will throw you off.

And one last thing! Please don't write this character "Overcoming" their disability to play music. I would research disabled musicians (Itzhak Perlman is the first one that comes to mind for me) and even—if called for—adaptive technology for instruments or how people have adapted their instruments/music to them for more accessibility.

Alrighty! Happy writing! I hope this helps some!

~ Mod Virus 🌸 (and a very thank you to Mods Sasza, Rot, Bert, & Patch for helping me with the research on this)

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

oh! october 6 world cerebral palsy day!

[brightlotusmoon]

Today is world cerebral palsy day. Go, me, I guess.

[molagboop]

What chronic illnesses/disabilities were most common among chozo? How did their society treat them?

Broadly speaking, across all planets the Chozo inhabit and factoring in all the tribes, commonality can be a little hard to quantify. We have a few to look into, though.

There are plenty of maladies with real world human counterparts. Here's a quick non-exhaustive list of a few notable ones before I delve in detail:

Physical ailments like arthritis

Developmental disabilities like dyspraxia and cerebral palsy

Autonomic disorders (dysautonomia; diseases that inhibit function of the automatic nervous system), such as Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and Parkinson's disease (obligatory plug for Dysautonomia International's free online education resources)

Gastric issues (think IBS or Crohn's Disease)

Statistically speaking, the Thoha have seen the most cases of autonomic disorders, particularly accompanied by hypermobility and joint issues. Gastric disorders are most common among the Ithloc. Amputees are the most numerous by far among all tribes in the modern day, factoring in at 75% of the total living population. Blindness and Deafness are also fairly common.

The Chozo at large are a polite people: accommodations are made at every given opportunity and no expense is spared in pursuit of it. Individuals with gastric issues are afforded as many breaks as they require and resources are tirelessly poured into alleviating their distress. Folks who experience chronic fatigue or are otherwise physically disadvantaged are likewise granted as much leeway as they need. On most Chozo-inhabited planets, populated areas contain numerous public resting spots, and mobility devices are readily available.

There are ways to restore lost sight and hearing entirely, but not everyone who was born deaf necessarily wants to be "fixed". Many Chozo elect to learn sign language, and holographic software that translates the spoken word into sign language as the user speaks is widespread and easily accessible. Most records are digital and can be dictated by screenreaders, but physical media can be scanned and dictated as well with 100% accuracy. Aids for those with varying degrees of loss in either of these senses are freely available.

It's not all sunshine and roses: sometimes a disabled individual will deal with rude assholes. They're not an infallible utopic monolith: but Chozo society generally condemns looking down upon folks who need more help. The Thoha especially revere the image of the selfless warrior who uplifts the frail and downtrodden, diligently answering their every call. Respect and dignity for the sick and elderly are common themes among the moral fiber of all tribes. They're not perfect, but the Chozo certainly have their priorities figured out when it comes to disabilities.

So that's the scoop on disabilities with human equivalents in the real world. Now here's a little bit about Chozo-specific disabilities:

Rostrate Keratin Disorder

RKD is a systemic disease characterized by rapid overgrowth of the rhamphotheca and deformity of the beak. Secondary symptoms include the formation of lesions on other keratin-heavy sections of the body, including the arms and legs.

The rate at which the beak's exterior layer grows in those with RKD causes elongation of the mandibles and an uneven bite: this interferes with an individual's ability to groom and feed themselves.

There's no known cure: treatment includes salve to keep the lesions down and trimming the beak and talons regularly. Experimental gene therapy is in the works to tone down accelerated keratin production in those afflicted with RKD.

Wing Rot

Wing rot and the loss of one's wings in general is considered a disability: wing loss is the single most common disability affecting the Chozo population at large. Wing rot is a disease largely characterized by the reduction or complete halt of blood and air flow to the wings, weakened wing muscles, flight feathers growing brittle and dull, and in too far gone cases, necrosis. Wing rot is caused by a pesky bacterium most commonly introduced by mites, but disease isn't the only thing that can make one lose their flight organs.

All Chozo are born with wings, but maintaining them is increasingly difficult as one enters their twilight years. Elderly Chozo, generally speaking, do not fly often. Blood pressure disorders, respiratory issues, anemia, and other issues can exacerbate existing cases of wing rot, but they can also damage these limbs well enough on their own. Lack of exercise and poor preening practices are often associated with wing rot.

More below because I went off on wings.

How Did We Get Here, or "Why Wings Suck"

Flight is extremely metabolically taxing: the Chozo respiratory system is built the way that it is specifically to help fuel flight. On an animal that has both humanoid arms/legs and wings, wings are very demanding limbs.

People on the Internet who are familiar with human skeletal anatomy often joke that the human spine is an evolutionary fluke and an absolute train wreck to maintain: the same can be said for Chozo wings. Raven Beak has had work done on his wings to keep them intact on top of a focused diet and training regimen + consistent daily exercise. Specifically, he's had his dorsal passage manually broadened to ensure the humeral diverticulum is never pinched (no matter how weird he sleeps on it. Ever woken up to a numb arm because the way you slept on it cut off circulation? I have), and the parabronchii network delivering oxygen to the blood in his wings artificially extended. He keeps his wings rigorously free of mites, dirt, dead feathers, and other maladies to prevent disease and keep them sleek. Disease is a wing killer, and the big one's name is wing rot.

It's a lot easier to amputate one's wings before they reach 700 than it is to help them keep their wings. This is largely attributed to the respiratory bridge to the wings being so narrow: the respiratory system branches into the wings through an air sac encased in each yardarm (humerus of the wing). Weakening airflow paired with wing rot is a recipe for disaster: the latter worsens the former.

For Chozo, respiration is continuous and involuntary: damage to the yardarm near the shoulder begets damage to the respiratory system itself, which brings with it yet more opportunities for infection. Breakage in the Chozo yardarm is exceedingly painful, and it speaks volumes to Raven Beak's resilience that he can not only deal with the loss of one wing in the middle of combat without anesthesia, but deign to pull the other one straight off immediately after losing the first.

If airflow is impeded or restricted, there's little or no oxygen flowing into a given wing. That's a problem! The other air sacs in the respiratory system aren't sheathed in a large hollow bone, so they don't have this issue. One bad accident in an individual's youth can lead to issues that necessitate amputation before the sunset age is even reached if not treated properly.

Wings are tools for flight and courtship: from an evolutionary perspective, Chozo who have lived beyond reproductive age aren't typically doing much in the way of bolstering their species' population (that's not to say they're not doing it for fun), and joint issues / weakening bones or muscles can make the former a bit harder to do.

Dealing with Lost Wings

On the social side of things, Chozo who lose their wings are not treated any lesser by their peers, though the loss is seen as a thing to be grieved. The Mawkin take wing loss harder than their neighbors because flight can be an advantage in battle (though a risky one). Wingless warriors are not looked down upon in any capacity, but winged heroes are mad put on a pedestal. A lot of it has to do with the image of their forebears as mighty winged vessels for the blood of war, but as their lives grow longer, keeping these limbs becomes a challenge.

Despite their relative volatility compared with other phocomeles, wings are an integral cultural symbol for the Chozo at large. They're used in festival and courtship dances. One can use their wings to carry objects if they're savvy enough. They're also vital vessels for nonverbal communication and implicit status symbols: some facets of Chozo body language are only communicated through wings: losing them causes a whole avenue for others to understand you to disappear.

The loss of wings for a Mawkin warrior is more of a personal challenge than something that's looked down upon socially: there are resources available for coping with phantom limb sensations, and amputees are looked after diligently by their community during recovery. Personal feelings of perceived inadequacy just come with the territory when you live your life surrounded by icons of winged warriors guarding the loft in their armored glory.

For someone who grows up hearing about glorious winged founders and worshiped protectors, losing a part of oneself so thoroughly entwined with the ancient image of sublime perfection can be world shattering. Other tribes are better equipped to handle these losses philosophically: while the Thoha revere their ancestors, they recognize that wingless life is easily adaptable. They put less stock in physical traits like their wings, and more in their sense of elevated mindfulness and philosophical morality. Wings are useful as a second set of limbs: their part in expressive body language can never be replaced. To the Thoha, this is outweighed by accommodation and the removal's accompaniment by the lift of a major physiological burden. Without wings, one spends a lot less time on personal grooming. That's more time spent meditating, engaging one's peers in a playful thought exercise, or engineering something useful.

On the other hand, the Hatzu's wings are largely vestigial and unsuited for flight. Plenty of Hatzu tribesmen elect to have their wings removed early, especially if they don't really care about the appendages' cosmetic appeal. The Thiloo (penguin Chozo) are the only other Chozo who match the Mawkin's enthusiasm for wing maintenance because their wings are adapted for swimming: a Thiloo without wings is one who is more sluggish and less capable than their peers in the water. There are ways to make up for the lack of wings, but their wings' unique evolutionary utility is a point of pride for the Thiloo.

A large part of Mawkin bathhouse culture revolves around preening, especially wing maintenance. The loss of one's wings can be perceived as a failure not in the individual, but on behalf of the community. "We failed to tend your wings, sibling. We failed to send for a physician early enough to save them." When there were still folks around to partake in said bathhouse culture, Raven Beak would always find himself swarmed with citizens and soldiers ready to inspect his broad, slick wings for duds and unwelcome visitors without fail. Mawkin society can only be considered a meritocracy insofar as warriors who perform great deeds, tenured scientists responsible for positive or immense change, and citizens deemed pillars of their communities are granted first priority in daily preening rituals. Bathtime isn't just "get clean and get out" for the Mawkin: it's a time to socialize and assist each other.

The Mawkin don't treat their wingless peers as any less of a Chozo for not having them, and indeed go to great lengths to soften the blow (in part because most of them can empathize)... but my goodness, the personal burden is immense.

Some folks will always feel like a part of them is missing, but others still find that their lives are more convenient in some ways. It's a lot easier to hide when you feel threatened or offended by something when you don't have wings to involuntarily flare as part of a flight response or threat display. Chozo without wings can also comfortably lay down on their backs!

Dealing with Lost Wings, Part 2: Seamless Prosthesis

Most folks adapt pretty well to losing their wings all things considered, but some folks suffer severe dysmorphia: thus the existence of biomechanical wings. The recovery is long, and one's newly synthesized appendages may feel very itchy for a good month or so after surgery (particularly around the attachment site, where new nerves/blood vessels are integrated with the rest of the body and circulation needs to be monitored heavily), but it's possible to install new wings.

Chozo from any tribe can experience dysmorphia and opt for biomechanical prosthesis, but Mawkin warriors are statistically most likely to pursue this avenue of renewal by a long shot. Again, they're not socially punished for lacking wings, but wings are a huge part of their identity.

Biomechanical wings are a huge responsibility and need to be maintained better than a prized show dog. Appendees need to be monitored by their surgeon in case there are any issues, and there can be many issues: chief among them being adaptive failure, wherein the rest of the body doesn't recognize the wings as appendages, and the immune system begins attacking all the new stuff. This is a huge problem when your "new stuff" includes a respiratory organ, a rather large network of veins/arteries/nerves, and a vast expanse of musculoskeletal tissue. Once the recovery period (which includes the first molt) is over, a recipient of new wings is generally good to go, but the wings will need to be examined thoroughly every time they go in for a medical exam.

[mahmoud0qassas]

Allah is the Provider and He is the one who blesses the provision, and Allah is more generous than all

And you are absolutely certain that what you give to God, He will multiply it for you many times over, so do not despair, for you are working and donating for yourself and the hereafter.

Yes, we need you because we are a large family. Yes, the amount is large, but it did not arouse your feelings, and my daughter is asking for your help

Don't raise your feelings while my family lives with humiliation

It did not arouse your feelings, and my friend asks you to help us in order for us to travel as soon as possible to treat my brother in a clean hospital

My brothers and sisters in Islam

Every day I beg you to stand with us, and the abundance of hope made me ashamed of myself, and this particular displacement, in which we moved from Rafah to the city of Zawaida. We faced the cruelty of humiliation and humiliation from the camps, and they allowed my family of 42 individuals to set up only two tents out of four.

This is a final appeal to you.. My family needs you.. My disabled brother needs you.. And my daughter dreams of living in safety.. Do not break our thoughts.. And the size of your donation will determine our path.. And the greater your donation, Allah will honor you in this world and the afterlife, for Allah is more generous than all.

If you want to enter Paradise, look at our condition, and be sure that Allah will admit you to His Paradise, and whenever you are good, Allah will give you according to your goodness.