PASUQUIN, Ilocos Norte—A woman born with cerebral palsy became her family’s main inspiration, motivating her siblings to become medical professionals, and prompting their mother to embark on a ground-breaking dragon fruit farm that has become a model plantation emulated throughout the country.
“At first, I could hardly accept it but I just thought she’s God’s gift,” said Edita Dacuycuy, referring to her daughter Merodith, nicknamed Kaye. “She’s so dear and special to us.”
The youngest of four siblings, 33-year-old Kaye was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a physical disability caused by injury to the developing brain, usually before birth. In addition to their motor disability, people with cerebral palsy may have other associated impairments including epilepsy, and disorders of speech, vision, hearing or intellect.
