Living with cerebral palsy ... a unique story to share
Published:Sunday | January 25, 2026 | 12:05 AMRene Lambert - Contributor
Writing has always been a tool of self-expression and reflection for me. As a person who has cerebral palsy with a speech impairment, expressing myself through writing has always given me a sense of freedom. When I became a teenager, it became a safe haven where I could sort through all of the emotions I was feeling, all this while using it to encourage other persons.
At the age of 15 , I got the opportunity to get baptised at Swallowfield Chapel, Kingston, Jamaica. It was something that I always wanted to do as a child and, when the opportunity presented itself at church, I did. It’s one thing to get baptised just as an ordinance of the Christian faith, but it’s another thing to be able to share testimony of your journey with Christ Jesus up until that point with one’s church family. I got to type what I wanted to share with everyone and have it read at church. It felt wonderful to be able to share my own thoughts and journey as many people were encouraged in their own faith!
That experience showed me how powerful my voice could be, especially when it’s used for positivity and uplifting others through my journey with Christ and God’s Word. Living with cerebral palsy comes with its own challenges, but I also realised that it provided me with a unique story to share with those around me. Since then, my mom, other family members and friends have been encouraging me to write my story down in the form of a book.
Ten years later, I did exactly that and was able to have it published in the summer of 2025. My memoir is titled Uphill Climb - Cerebral Palsy Adventures. In my book, I share my story of my earliest days in St Elizabeth, Jamaica to my present reality of being a college student in the United States. It provides a unique perspective of what it means to go through life as a person living with cerebral palsy.
In the Bible, we are often encouraged to use the gifts and talents God gives us for the betterment of the world. The parable of the talents always encourages me to use whatever I have to inspire and uplift others through Christ’s love. Life has thus far been challenging and rewarding. But isn’t that what the uphill climb is all about?