My name is Corinne Faith Testerverdes.  I am ten years old, and I live in Coral Gables. Florida, with my mummy and daddy, and my big brother Chuck, who is fifteen, and my little sister, Amy Beth, who is six.

We also have a cat, a Norwegian Forest cat, who is named "Bubba".  "Bubba" is my bestest buddy; I just love him so much!

I have cerebral palsy.  I cannot walk (I'm in a wheelchair), and I cannot talk.  I can talk by way of using my word board, which has words and symbols that lets me express my feelings that my mouth, voice can't.  I was born this way; I've never known what it is like to be able to walk or talk.

Sometimes people think that makes me sad.  It does sometimes, but at other times, it really doesn't bother me, nor have I given it much thought.  I am still able to express myself, so there you go.  Where there's a will, there's a way, as my mummy always say! :)

Mummy and daddy don't have to worry about me becoming a chatterbox! LOL 

And my big brother doesn't have to tell me to quit bugging him! LOL

Because I need help in a lot of things (eating, getting dressed, having my hair or teeth brushed), I don't get to go out much.  It's a pain, but when I do go out, it's always a treat.  People see me in my wheelchair, and they smile at me, or they shake my hand, say hello, which I always appreciate.  That way, they see me as a person, and not just a lump, which is how some people view me, which, in turn, makes me sad or mad.

I may not look like much to a lot of people, but I am still a human being, a little girl who only wants to make herself known, a child who wants to have fun, laugh, play, have friends.  Things any other child wants or needs.  Please try to learn to overlook my wheelchair or my physical problems; I am a lot more like you than what people may realize!

I like to go to church; I go to Coral Gables Church of God every Sunday with the family.  I like the praise/worship time the best; the music makes me want to float right out of my wheelchair!  Sometimes I try to sing; I only make noises, which bothers some people; but I do it anyway, because my heart is so full of the Lord's joy! :)  I think Sunday is my favorite part of the week!

I also love Saturdays because I can sleep in to ten or eleven, and I can do pretty much what I want:  watch cartoons, play on the computer, or play with my family. 

School is okay (I'm in the fourth grade), but the kids sometimes make fun of me, call me a retard.  I don't know exactly what that means, but it must not be very nice because they make mad faces when they say it, which hurts my feelings.  Don't those other kids know it isn't nice to tease others?

Teacher is really patient and loving with me; she never hollers at me to "hurry it up" when I'm doing my report or laughs at me when I try to write on the blackboard.  I still try my best; that's all she wants me to do, and I do.  I wish more people (kids or adults) were as understanding towards me or my disabilities!

The world would be a much nicer place!

Well, I am going to go to lunch; the lunch bell just rang, and besides, I'm getting hungry.  Today it's tater tots, hot dogs, and three bean salad.  And for dessert, jello mold (strawberry-flavored; yum, my favorite!!).  I will write in here again another day; until then, this is Corinne Faith Testerverdes signing off! Bye!

~Corinne Faith, aged ten.