Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy

WATCH LIVE Before most Rock 'n'Roll San Diego runners even wake up Sunday morning, Jamie Watts will already be on the course heading towards the finish line. Watts is the first runner of Sunday's half-marathon, set to leave the starting line at 3 a.m. She has cerebral palsy, which makes routine tasks more like routine challenges. But, with the help of friends who accompany her along the course, 13.1 miles is well within reach. It just takes her a little longer. While typical runners average right around a 10-minute mile, Watts clocks in closer to 30 minutes per mile, which is why she starts so early. Watts says the roads aren't always closed at the beginning of her race, so she often runs on a "parallel path" using sidewalks next to the road until the course is completely blocked off. While she has already completed more than 100 races, mostly 5Ks, this will be just her third half-marathon. She is aiming for a finish time between seven and eight hours -- "hopefully closer to seven," she says. Watts started training for races primarily just to stay healthy but says if the inspires others with disabilities to try new things it's … Continue reading →

June 4, 2017 11:40 AM By Tim Jimenez PHILADELPHIA (CBS) Theres a $5,000 reward in the search for the suspect who sucker punched a man with cerebral palsy in West Chester. The attacker was released on bail, but police are looking to put him behind bars again. West Chester Police, the Chester County Fugitive Unit, and the U.S. Marshals are looking for Barry Baker. Suspect Who Assaulted Disabled Man Previously Stole Metal Flag Holders From Veterans Graves He should surrender himself peacefully. Right now, he is public enemy number one, said Chester County DA Tom Hogan. Hogan says the 29-year-old Baker was arrested nearly two weeks ago for punching a man with cerebral palsy outside a West Chester 7-Eleven in early May. The defendant made bail and immediately went on the run in that case. He is wanted on two outstanding warrants, Hogan said. Man Accused Of Punching Man With Cerebral Palsy Wanted For Probation Violation Hogan says one warrant is due to Baker violating parole by being charged. Parole was from a prior theft conviction. The other warrant issued because authorities say Baker didnt appear in court for a matter involving child support. Bakers last known address is in … Continue reading →

Looking at the smoothly blended smoky shadow on Victoria Aparicios eyelids, no one would ever know her mother once applied all her makeup. Looking at her flawless red lipstick, no one would ever know Victoria once struggled to use her own hands. Born four months premature, she wasnt expected to survive, and if she did, doctors said Victoria would most likely suffer crippling disabilities. They werent sure sure how much damage her brain sustained, nor did they know how severe her cerebral palsy would be. Just last month, Victoria, 18, graduated with honors from St. Joseph Academy in St. Augustine and dreams of becoming a makeup artist. So, shes a miracle, said Cynthia Aparicio, her mother. [Her graduation] is bittersweet, and probably every parent says that, but especially because of Victorias journey. Ive had to be there so much. Its amazing to see, but its going to be really hard to let go. Her mother and her father, Victor, wont have to let go just yet. Victoria plans to attend Daytona State College for business, and the college has a branch in Victorias hometown. The degree, she said, will help her create a business and brand in makeup artistry, but … Continue reading →

Please enable Javascript to watch this video BLAKELY -- For the seventh year, a gym owner and personal trainer in Lackawanna County is turning his passion for fitness into a fundraiser benefiting a nonprofit in the area. Mike Marcinek is the owner of NEPA Fit Club, a personal coaching fitness facility in Blakely. He helps organize a fundraiser called Fitstock for a Cause, now in its seventh year. Fitstock is a weekend-long event featuring an outdoor workout, basket raffles, and more. "Last year, we raised just about $15,000 over the weekend. If we can surpass that this year that would be awesome," Marcinek said. "Whether you're a beginner or very experienced, everybody comes in and all the money goes back to local charity." That charity is the United Cerebral Palsy of NEPA. Executive Director Sarah Drob remembers the phone call from Mike out of the blue seven years ago that started it all. "Talked to us, said, 'We'd like to do this. Would you be interested in being the beneficiary?' No problem! We'll be there! We've grown with them. They are a tremendous group of people," said Drob. UCP of NEPA helps people with all kinds of disabilities. Drob says … Continue reading →

Asked if there will be anything special about high school graduation, Lizbeth Gomez glances down and shyly shares, Ill be valedictorian. After chatting with this 17-year-old senior for nearly two hours, its an astonishing accomplishment to reveal so late in an interview. But when you get to know Gomez, you come to understand that being humbleis more than a value. Humilityis part of who she is. Lizbeth Gomez, left, and her twin sister, Elizabeth, both have cerebral palsy and are seniors at Century High School in Santa Ana on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. When the Nicholas Academic Center launched its third location at Century High School in Santa Ana, Lizbeth was one of the students to be accepted. With the mentorship and college admission guidance, Gomez applied for and was accepted to Stanford University and will be attending the school this fall. She wants to study to be a biomedical engineer and conduct research on cerebral palsy. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG) Rosa Diaz, executive director of the Nicholas Academic Centers, left, speaks with Lizbeth Gomez, a senior at Century High School in Santa Ana, in her office at the school in Santa Ana on Wednesday, May 31, … Continue reading →

Sisters with cerebral palsy hope Camp Rise Above can soon become an overnight experience As summer break draws closer so does the chance for young children to go to summer camp. While most kids can choose where they want to go, others are limited for medical reasons. That's where Camp Rise Above steps in, as they work to give children with special needs a chance to go to camp and make memories to last a lifetime. Sisters Maggie and Lucy are just like any other pair of siblings. They love to play, have fun and learn. They don't let the fact that they have cerebral palsy get in the way. Maggie has speech and movement issues. Lucy has a tough time walking. But when the go to Camp Rise Above in the summer, no one notices their disabilities. "My favorite is I get to swim with my buddy, and it's really fun," Lucy said. Maggie's favorite activity is the climbing wall. Camp Rise Above provides them a chance to try new things and have new experiences. Right now it isn't an overnight camp, but organizers and the two girls are hoping that changes soon. "Well they're already talking about it," … Continue reading →

After being advised not to attend college, 22-year-old Tanner Salinas, who has cerebral palsy, finds himself living on his own in Riverwoods and working as an usher for the Chicago Cubs four years after graduating from Stevenson High School Born with a movement disorder that affects his speech and body movement, Salinas said that while at Stevenson, he was advised to attend the school's transition program for 18 to 22 year olds with developmental disabilities. "I wanted to go to college like everyone else," he said. "To do what I have been doing, I had, and have been proving all the doctors, and everyone else, wrong because they told me and my parents that I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing because of my disability." Salinas went on to graduate from Stevenson in four years and earned a diploma through the University of Iowa's Reach program, a two-year transition and certificate program for students with developmental disabilities, according to its website. In May, he started a job as an usher with the Chicago Cubs, manning the upper decks of Wrigley Field. Q: You've been to Wrigley Field as a fan in past seasons and as an employee this season. Now … Continue reading →

Police in Pennsylvania are on the hunt for a culprit who was caught on camera mocking and then sucker punching a man with cerebral palsy. The Chester County District Attorney released the impossibly offensive video of the May 10 incident that was captured by security cameras at a West Chester, Pennsylvania gas station. Watch as the attacker, later identified as 29-year-old Barry Baker, relentlessly mocks and then punches the man with cerebral palsy for no reason: Baker was found, arrested on May 22 and charged with assault. His bail was set at 10% of $25,000 which he posted. Now Baker, who became public enemy number one online after the story and video circulated, is wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies. The West Chester Patch reports that warrants have been issued for Baker after he failed to appear for charges stemming from this assault AND a seperate hearing for a domestic relations matter. The Mercury revealed that Baker, who owned a lawn service company that got hammered with brutal reviews via Yelp by people angered over his assault, has a lengthy criminal history that included desecration charges after he stole more than 200 military flag holders from the graves of military … Continue reading →

Cape Town When Nosphiwo Queeneth Gum gave birth to her daughter at 17, she could have hardly realised that one day she would be forced to say goodbye forever. And that she would emerge stronger, no longer frightened about death, and able to help other youths with difficult life choices. It was not long after little Simamkele was born in 2003 that doctors revealed she had Cerebral Palsy, a disorder that affects movement, motor skills and muscle tone. - Health24: Cerebral Palsy I thought: is that a boys name? They took her to hospital, did tests, and it was just a scary thing for me because I didnt know what was happening, the now 30-year-old said on Tuesday. She felt she had two choices either stressing about it or accepting it. I realised that after everything, as young as I was, she is my child and that comes from a place where I didnt really feel like I belonged anywhere and here I get given a responsibility. Gum is now a counsellor for Salesian Life Choices, a Cape Town-based social enterprise investing in youth. Campaign She was speaking as the organisation launched the 30 Stories in 30 Days campaign for … Continue reading →

The 778,606 settlement figure covers the care needs of Martin Gibson for the next year as well as past care provided by the boy's parents. Martin, through his mother Sarah Gibson, of Castle Manor, Newcastle, Co Wicklow, sued the NMH for alleged negligence over the circumstances of his birth on July 3, 2010. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to properly manage and monitor the labour, delivery and birth of the baby. There was an alleged failure, at a review of the labour, to recognise or respond to abnormalities present on a cardiotocography (CTG), including persistent late decelerations. There was also an alleged failure to recognise a pathological first stage CTG necessitating the taking of urgent action. It was also claimed there was as failure to proceed to an emergency caesarean section and there was an alleged inappropriate delay in the decision to deliver the baby by caesarean. Martin was flat on delivery and was later transferred to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. The hospital denied the claims. The High Court recently found that the defendant was 70 per cent liable in the case. His counsel, Denis McCullough, said Martin is unable to communicate, uses a wheelchair … Continue reading →