Mom Is Raising Son with Only One Hand After Living with Cerebral Palsy for Decades

Growing up, Kiaira Fedorus faced challenges many children never have to imagine. Born with cerebral palsy that limits movement on the right side of her body, she spent much of her early life learning how to do everyday tasks — from washing herself and brushing her hair to walking and getting dressed.

Now 23, Fedorus says her biggest test came not from surgeries or therapy, but from becoming a mother.

“I thought that once I had the baby, it would just kind of be game over for me with my mobility and my life and everything,” says Fedorus, who lives in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada. “I really struggled with the idea of possibly making his life not great. If I was having a hard time with motherhood, I was afraid I’d pass some of that stress on to him.”

Fedorus shared those early fears in a personal essay for the CBC. Today, she’s a proud mom to her son Arthur, 1, whom she shares with her fiancé, Joey Barker, 26.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I would be as active as I am with him,” she says. “I thought it would limit me from going anywhere. It might take me a minute or two to figure out how to do things with one hand, and it is a little scary — but it’s been a really good ride.”

Fedorus was only six months old when she was diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which causes muscle stiffness on one side of the body — in her case, the right.

“What I struggled with most is my arm and the function of my hand,” she explains. “Right now it’s stuck at a 90-degree angle. When I was younger, it was closer to 45. So adapting with one hand was always my biggest challenge.”

As a child, she took her disability in stride. But as she entered her teens and early adulthood, she started noticing the differences more — especially when her friends began getting their driver’s licenses.

“It affected my mental health,” Fedorus admits. “I had hospital experiences after suicide attempts and dealt with very severe depression. I still struggle with it today. Looking back, I wish I could tell little Kiaira that it was going to be okay.”

At 18, Fedorus began sharing her story on TikTok, hoping to spread awareness and connect with others. When she learned she was pregnant in 2021, fear set in again — this time about how her body would handle pregnancy and motherhood.

Her mother gave her the encouragement she needed to continue.

“She said, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’” Fedorus recalls. “I told her, ‘I want to have this baby, but I don’t know how to be a mom — let alone a mom with one hand.’ And she reminded me that most of my life, I didn’t know how I was going to manage — but I always figured it out.”

Fedorus’s pregnancy went smoothly, and on April 1, 2024, she welcomed baby Arthur via Caesarean section.

“I remember laying there thinking, ‘You just came out of me, and I don’t know what I’m doing,’” she says. “It was so special — something I had imagined since I was little. Seeing my fears fade away and realizing, ‘Hey, we’re here. We can do this,’ was incredibly rewarding.”

The new mom says recovery wasn’t easy, especially with the chronic pain that comes with cerebral palsy.

“It was hard to even sit up some days,” she says. “Bringing a baby into that, I couldn’t bounce or burp him. I didn’t even change him for the first two weeks.”

Her fiancé and mother stepped in to help. “Looking back, I wish my mom could’ve stayed longer,” she adds. “There were those key moments when you’re supposed to bond with your baby, and I missed that. I still carry some guilt for not being able to do the smallest things.”

After a month, she was finally able to hold Arthur — even if only while sitting. Two months later, she managed to change his clothes, and by the third month, she could care for him on her own, bathing him and tending to his needs.

Now almost two, Arthur mirrors his mom’s movements. “He sees me sweep and do everything with one hand,” she says proudly. “He’s adapting just like I am.”

Today, Fedorus is using her platform to empower others. She’s the current Miss Queen Central Alberta with Personality Pageants Canada and founded Mothers Inclusive, an advocacy group supporting mothers with disabilities.

“Maybe my story can empower other moms to feel more confident in their choices,” she says. “Whether it’s through traditional pregnancy or adoption, it doesn’t matter. I want them to know that whatever your body or limitations are, you can still make your dream of motherhood happen.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 support.