Frankie

Photo property of Zoey Lee

Photo property of Zoey Lee

Frankie is truly the light of our lives! Ever since she was born she has been the happiest and sweetest girl we've ever met. Born 2 months early, she has been a fierce warrior from the start, who's bravery, strength and resilience are undeniable. After 6 long weeks in the NICU, our baby girl was finally able to come home. We soon discovered that she has esotropia - a form of strabismus that makes it difficult for her eyes to communicate with each other. She wears the cutest pink glasses and had eye corrective surgery in December 2019. A few months later, Frankie was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Being that her hips were completely dislocated, she had hip surgery in May 2020.

Through everything life has through her way, she has met each challenge with a smile on her face and an 'I've got this' attitude! That's why when she was officially diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, at 22 months, we knew our unstoppable girl would navigate through this journey just the same. Today, Frankie is 2 years old and participates in physical therapy 2x a week, occupational therapy 2x a month, speech therapy 2x a month, eye therapy 1x a month, and child development classes 2x a week. She also uses adaptive equipment such as AFO braces, a stander, gait trainer and a wheelchair. Frankie enjoys dancing to music, exploring outside, painting, reading books and playing with her dogs, Kuba and Sonny.

While Frankie's ultimate goal is to be able to walk, we celebrate every milestone - no matter how big or small. Cerebral palsy is a condition Frankie will live with for the rest of her life, and we are here to support her, as she needs, every step of the way. We are taking life one step at a time, and focusing on the positivity in each moment. In these past 2 years, Frankie has taught me more than I've learned in a lifetime. She has taught me that perspective is everything. She has taught me the importance of celebrating our differences. She has taught me that there is something good in every single day and that there is always something to smile about. She has taught me that obstacles are not walls and that they can be overcome. She has taught me what it truly means to be an advocate and an ally. The list goes on and on! I'm an forever grateful for this beautiful little girl of mine. She is a true miracle and the best thing to have ever happened to me.

We share our journey on Instagram and YouTube, in hopes to spread awareness for cerebral palsy and advocate for inclusion. We want to inspire others with the idea that just because you are unique, does not mean you are not amazing!

To learn more about Frankie, follow along @mama.zlee on Instagram and here on Youtube!

Photo property of Zoey Lee