Tinley Teen Says To 'Never Give Up': Cerebral Palsy Awareness

TINLEY PARK, IL — The month of March is officially coming to an end. But before we leap into April, Patch sat down with one Tinley Park resident whose positivity and big heart was recognized all month long.

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day was March 25. For those who might not be familiar with the condition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls it a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. The condition itself is the most common motor disability in childhood.

The word cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. This condition is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles, the CDC explains.

Khaled Taher, a 16-year-old Lincoln Way East junior, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after he was born at just 26 weeks. The doctors told his parents, Musa and Hanan Taher, that their son wasn't going to survive. Nearly 17 years later, Khaled is alive, well and illuminating the faces of those around him with his kind heart, beautiful smile and positive outlook on life.

Get to know Khaled and his journey, below:

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