ABC 13 Houston: Young boy with Cerebral Palsy defying the odds one step at a time

Written By Aisha Christa Atkinson

HOUSTON, Texas -- 5-year-old Aries is changing the world, one step at a time. Aries was born at 23 weeks to Aisha Atkinson. He weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces.

"Emotionally, it ended up being a very, very scary time because children born that early, it's not ideal that you want in your pregnancy," said Atkinson.

Because of his early arrival, Aries suffered from fluid buildup on the brain. He had to have three surgeries to drain the fluid.

At just 2-months old, Aries became the first child to use a first of its kind wearable cap. It was developed by Manish Shah, MD and his team at UTHealth Houston and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

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Aisha Christa Atkinson

Aisha Christa Atkinson is an award-winning instructional leader, education scholar, and writer whose work centers on inclusive leadership, literacy development, and the design of supportive school communities. She serves as Assistant Principal at Stafford Early Childhood Center in Texas and was named Stafford MSD District Professional of the Year (2025) and the 71st Texas Mother of the Year by American Mothers, Inc. (2023). Her writing has appeared in Education Week, Edutopia, Texas Voices, Teacher2Teacher, and Advocate for Me Magazine, where she examines instructional leadership, differentiated instruction, and systems that cultivate belonging. Aisha holds advanced degrees in Educational Administration and English Education and writes at the intersection of practice, policy, and purpose.

https://www.aishacatkinson.com
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