Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy Treatment

THE family of a disabled youngster is one step nearer to making his life easier, thanks to fundraising efforts of the local community. Jon and Jo Dilling, from Glenmoor Road, Ferndown, are desperate to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle for their five-year-old son Harrison, who has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic. The family say the vehicle would offer Harrison more dignity and save him having to be carried in and out of the car each time they go out a task becoming more and more difficult as Harrison grows. Jon and Jo, who set up Harrisons Trust Fund in order to raise money for the vital equipment and treatment he will need, are thrilled to have reached the initial 5,000 target towards the deposit of the vehicle. The couple, who have another son, seven-year-old Reece, took part in the Tough Mudder race at Henley and raised more than 1,500, but have been overwhelmed with donations from others. Fundraisers have taken on marathons, hikes, headshaves, sponsored walks and cake sales in a bid to help. Jon said: With all this amazing support were delighted to say that were pretty sure weve reached the 5,000 target we set ourselves this year. We … Continue reading →

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 20, 2014 It all began in 1950, when a group of concerned parents banded together to seek much-needed services for their children with cerebral palsya lifelong disorder that affects muscle control, movement, and learning abilities and is typically caused by damage to the brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Initially called United Cerebral Palsy of Queens (UCPQ), this nonprofit agency opened their first Childrens Center in a storefront on Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica. In 1952, they moved to the basement of a wood frame house in Queens (now affectionately known as the haunted house) and provided educational and therapeutic services to children with cerebral palsy in consultation with local hospitals. Natalie Katz Rogers, the First Lady of UCPQ, first got involved with the agency soon after its formation, organizing a Volunteer Motor Corps to transport children from their homes to their treatment. A dynamic commercial real estate developer with tremendous organizational ability, Katz Rogers played a key role in several areas of the fledgling agencygetting local doctors, therapists and teachers involved, hiring an Executive Director, and recruiting new board members. She even participated in the first fundraising telethon, which featured television personality Dennis … Continue reading →

Last updated at 14:43, Friday, 15 August 2014 A disabled Cockermouth girls dream of being able to ride a bicycle has suffered a major setback. BETTER DAY: Family and friends of Cockermouth youngster Megan White, centre, celebrate reaching the total of 40,000 in just one year to send Megan to America to have treatment Megan White, 14, was diagnosed at the age of two with cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia, which means she has poor co-ordination and trouble walking. She uses a walking stick, wheelchair or mobility scooter to get around. Her mum Kerrie Iredale, 37, of Bellbrigg Lonning, launched a campaign called Megans Dream in 2012 to raise 40,000 to get pioneering treatment in North America to help with her mobility. The target was reached late last year, thanks to several donations from the community. Megans ambition is that one day she will recover sufficiently to ride a bike like her sisters, her twin Leah and Kara. But Miss Iredale revealed this week that the St Louis Childrens Hospital, where Megan was due to get treatment, has written to say that the operation cannot go ahead at the moment because she has problems with one of her hips. After … Continue reading →

Cerebral palsy does not only affect one person, it alters the lives of the family as well. It took a while to adjust to the implications of Cathy Naidoo's* cerebral palsy, but the family soon slipped into the routines of everyday life. (Madelene Cronj, M&G) We try to live as normal of a life as possible, says Charlene Naidoo*, sitting on the edge of the black leather couch in the living room of her Mayfair home in Johannesburg. But when we go to the shops people stare. Children will come and stand by her wheelchair and just stare at her. Charlenes smile is sad. Sometimes I look at other mothers and daughters that age walking in the mall and shopping, and I think that could have been us. The hands of her 16-year-old daughter Cathy* are turned sideways, her knees inward and her limbs are rigid. Cathy has cerebral palsy, a physical disability that affects movement, posture and co-ordination, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Association of South Africa. It is caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls motor function. It took Charlene* and her husband Roy* years to come to terms with their daughters diagnosis.(Photos:Madelene … Continue reading →

A Mirror campaign to highlight Tory cuts to vital operations for cerebral palsy sufferers has helped children around the world. The case of Ben Baddeley - whose selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) treatment was paid for by our readers - has led to families as far afield as Holland, America, New Zealand, China, Vietnam and New Zealand getting help. His parents Amy and Gary told how a series of articles to highlight the benefits of the treatment has seen thousands of people follow his story. And our campaign helped bring about not just a Government U-turn in the UK to fund the operations, as well as giving hope to cerebral palsy sufferers across the globe. Our readers have now helped to raise almost 30,000 for Ben and, after his second and final life-changing operation, he will continue to undergo vital 150-a-session physio three times a week to help him to walk. His family, of Silverdale, Staffs, has just released video footage charting his remarkable progress - and will be writing to the hundreds of our readers to thank every one personally, with pictures of Ben before the treatment, and afterwards. Amy, 29, said: "We now have 4,280 people following Ben's progress … Continue reading →

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 12, 2014 The birth injury patient advocates at CerebralPalsyHelp.org are alerting parents of new study information on the site concerning the classification of cerebral palsy. A recent Swedish study found that better identification of the disorder may help with treatment*. The CP Help Center is a national advocacy center providing the latest on cerebral palsy treatment, clinical trials, resources and litigation news. Parents can learn more about their childs condition and how it may have been caused, get information on available assistance, and decide if they should seek legal advice. Cerebral palsy restricts muscle movement, coordination and posture. The leading cause of functional and developmental disability in children in the United States**, it occurs in approximately 3.3 out of every 1,000 births, and affects approximately 500,000 children**. While CP alters muscle function, it is actually a neurological disorder caused by brain damage to the parts that control muscle function***. This usually occurs before, during or after birth***. Cerebral palsy may be caused by factors occurring to the fetus during pregnancy, or by trauma or asphyxiation during labor***. There is no cure at this time. However, researchers are working toward better treatments. Now, the Help Center … Continue reading →

Parents of children with cerebral palsy have welcomed an NHS decision to fund an operation that will allow youngsters to walk unaided. The pioneering procedure, known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), reduces the tight and stiff muscle tone in lower limbs to allow children to walk without the need of crutches or have to use a wheelchair. Privately the operation costs around 50,000 and a number of youngsters from the North East have travelled to America to undergo the life-changing procedure. Last year, Callum Brown and his parents Sharon and Neil jetted off to St Louis Childrens Hospital in the USA after they spent months raising the huge sum needed for the op. Callum Brown with mum Sharon The surgery has allowed Callum, who suffers from diplegic cerebral palsy, to walk independently for the first time in his life. Callum, nine, underwent the five-hour SDR procedure on his spine and two weeks later he was back in theatre again for work to be done on his heels and hamstrings. Mum Sharon, 41, of Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, said: Its absolutely fantastic news for children who will qualify for the operation and its a step in the right direction. The surgery has … Continue reading →

Len Ainsworth contributes to create Ainsworth Chair of Technology and Innovation to combat childhood illnesses Gaming pioneer, Leonard Len Ainsworth, will donate $1.25 million over the next five years to support the creation of the Ainsworth Chair of Technology and Innovation. Managed by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and the Grace Centre for Newborn Care, the Chair will focus on using advancing technology and innovation to accelerate the search for new and improved treatments and interventions for childhood disabilities and illnesses. Professor Nadia Badawi, who is the Macquarie Group foundation chair of Cerebral Palsy and Grace Centre for Newborn Care medical director, said Ainsworths funding could change the landscape of childrens health. We see critically ill babies and their families every day and we are committed to ensuring we are turning every stone in our efforts to find new and effective treatments and cures, she said. This position will inspire collaboration from the worlds best technological minds to produce innovative and ground-breaking medical interventions for childrens health and disability. Just how far new technology can take us is the new unknown, but it is an exciting unknown. Read more: Telstra and b2cloud reveal Google Glass projects for vision and hearing impaired … Continue reading →

Greg Best was browsing Facebook one night when he saw a story about five-year-old Maddy Dorrington. Maddy has cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia, meaning she can't walk, balance or carry out daily activities independently. But there is hope that one day she will be able to walk on her own and be independent after being accepted for surgery at St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri, USA. Mum Gemma has to raise $140,000 to get them from Torbay to Missouri and be able to pay for the physiotherapy treatment needed for a year afterwards. Her story struck a chord with Greg because Maddy is close in age to his own daughter Mackenzie, who is almost 4. "Seeing (Mackenzie) grow up every day healthy is an absolute blessing," he said. "I really feel for the kids when basic freedoms we often take for granted, such as walking, running and playing with friends, are unfairly taken away from them." The Arkles Bay resident wants to raise money for Maddy, so he set up a Trade Me auction offering a full day's work around the winner's home. Through the auction and various donations Greg raised $650 and is really happy with the response. "The … Continue reading →

Successful fun day and fire walk produces cash boost for Nicole 3:59pm Tuesday 5th August 2014 in News By Miran Rahman DEVOTED: Candice and Tom Vendettuoli, with their daughter Nicole A CAMPAIGN to help a seriously-ill baby girl has been boosted after more than 6,000 was raised in only two days. The money for one-year-old cerebral palsy-sufferer Nicole Vendettuoli, of Oakworth, Keighley, was collected at a fun day and fire walk hosted by Keighley's Three Horses Pub on Saturday, and then at an Asda bag-packing on Sunday. It will go towards the Nicole's Wish to Walk campaign, which is seeking to collect about 70,000 to send Nicole to America for life-changing medical treatment. The total raised currently stands at just less than 14,000. On Saturday, a group of 15 people took part in the fire walk at the pub, which was supervised by a helper from the Little Heroes charity. Among those who participated were members of Nicole's family, including her parents Tom and Candice, of Harewood Crescent, Oakworth. Tom Vendettuoli said: "It was a really good experience. The closest thing I can compare it to is taking a hot potato out of the oven you don't just hold it … Continue reading →