Izzy's Inspiring Step Forward; Life with Cerebral Palsy.

Is'Mael Jo'Ven Traci'Lee Mikhail Cole's story with Cerebral Palsy.

Bathing himself with a wash rag. He cannot stand up without a walker so cannot take a shower and has to kneel at his bathtub and wipe himself with a rag to clean.

Many of life's toils are not as easily seen on a person.

Propping himself back up then sitting back on the toilet to get back in his wheelchair.

He can reach to both walls across his bathroom. Squeezing down to roll himself backward out of the bathroom.

Vacuuming the living room.

Putting the vacuum away with his "mom", Iris, watching. Iris is Izzy's Aunt, his biological mother lives in Detroit with his biological father.

After school, it's homework for the family in the kitchen. Alexis, Izzy's cousin, is working on scientific notation for math and is asking Izzy for his help.

Driving out to the clothesline.

Picking up laundry from the clothes line.

Opening his walker to walk down the street for exercise and to stretch his legs. Iris is in the background checking her mail.

Trying to walk without any help. Iris's sister drove up and is speaking with her while Izzy is walking down to the street.

Speaking to a friend in front of his home, waiting for a ride.

Looking for a job with a life coach Dr. Campbell. Dr. Campbell speaks with Izzy about twice a month and are looking for a job online at Best Buy's website. Izzy believes that would be an awesome job to have while he's still living with Iris.

Waiting to cross the street on his way to the Southern Nazarene Center for Spaghetti night.

Sometimes you need a lift up to help pull up your pants, Tyler is happy to help and to share a laugh with Izzy.

Racing games on the iPhone, Andrew shows Izzy his new game that he had just began playing.

Laughing with friends Jonna and Tyler, Izzy enjoys the company.

Stillwater, Oklahoma Class of 2008.

Enjoying the evening sunlight before the shadows begin to fade and another day has been completed.

Is'Mael leads a difficult life, but finds the beauty of everyday. He is someone who has always been optimistic and loves meeting new people.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement.

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain and can occur during pregnancy, during childbirth or after birth up to about age three.

Cerebral palsy describes a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to nonprogressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behaviour, by epilepsy, and by secondary musculoskeletal problems.

Of the many types and subtypes of CP, none of them have a known cure. Usually, medical intervention is limited to the treatment and prevention of complications arising from CP's effects.

A 2003 study put the economic cost for people with CP in the US at $921,000 per individual, including lost income.

In another study, the incidence in six countries surveyed was 2.12–2.45 per 1,000 live births, indicating a slight rise in recent years. Improvements in neonatal nursing have helped reduce the number of babies who develop cerebral palsy, but the survival of babies with very low birth weights has increased, and these babies are more likely to have cerebral palsy.

Average life expectancy for a person with CP varies with degree; Izzy will lead a full life and be expected to live 60 plus years total.