Satya Nadella’s Son Suffered Through Cerebral Palsy And Has Passed Away At 26. Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Condition.
Raising a kid is by no means an easy task. Especially when it comes to children with special needs. The parents of these children have to consider so much more than most parents do. Many of these children have shorter lifespans. And what could be more painful for a parent than helplessly watching their child live in pain and pass away before them? Unfortunately, this is the reality for Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his wife Anu Nadella who lost their son, Zain Nadella, who was born with cerebral palsy at the age of 26 on Monday morning.
The sad news was broken through an email sent to all Microsoft employees. The email requests that the employees keep the family in mourning in their thoughts and prayers. They have additionally asked the employees to give them the space to grieve.
While this is very saddening, I feel like we don’t have enough awareness about cerebral palsy, the condition which Satya Nadella’s son, Zain was suffering from. And considering how important it is to include differently-abled people in our society, having that awareness is a must. So let’s find out more about cerebral palsy.
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What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that refers to a group of non-progressive that can affect the movement, balance and posture of a person. It is caused due to deformities in the developing brain and from brain damage during or after birth till up to the first 3 years. The condition causes the signals from the brain to the body to get lost or misdirected which cause difficulties in the movement for people with cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy can be mild, moderate or severe. While it can exist alongside intellectual disabilities, it is not an intellectual disability.
Symptoms Of Cerebral Palsy
While this is a neurological condition that one must consult a doctor for, knowing the symptoms of cerebral palsy can help detect it sooner. NICHD lists the symptoms of cerebral palsy as follows,
1. Ataxia
2. Spasticity
3. Weakness experienced in arms or legs
4. Tendency to walk on toes
5. Tendency to walk in a crouched position
6. Muscle tone which could either be too stiff or too floppy
7. Drooling
8. Trouble swallowing or speaking
9. Shaking of hands, arms, legs or feet
10. Unexpected or uncontrolled movements
11. In infants and toddlers: delays in learning motor skills
12. The trouble with precise and minute movements e.g. writing or buttoning a shirt
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Treatment For Cerebral Palsy
1. Botox
2. Orthopaedic procedures e.g. serial casting
3. Physical therapy
4. Occupational therapy
5. Speech therapy
While we pray for the Nadella family as they mourn the passing of Zain Nadella, I believe it is essential to educate ourselves about such conditions. I believe that this awareness is what will push us to be more inclusive as a society.
Featured Image Credits: Office Chai
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