Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term denoting a group of non-progressive,[1][2] non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement.[3]Scientific consensus still holds that CP is neither genetic nor a disease, and it is also understood that the vast majority of cases are congenital, coming at or about the time of birth, and/or are diagnosed at a very young age rather than during adolescence or adulthood. It can be defined as a central motor dysfunction affecting muscle tone, posture and movement resulting from a permanent, non-progressive defect or lesion of the immature brain. Cerebral refers to the cerebrum, which is the affected area of the brain. The disorder may often involve connections between the cortex and other parts of the brain such as the cerebellum. The term palsy in modern parlance refers to disorder of movement, but the word root "palsy" does still technically mean "paralysis" today, even though it is not used as such within the meaning of cerebral palsy. The use of "palsy" in the term cerebral palsy makes it important to note that paralytic disorders are in fact not cerebral palsy meaning that the condition of quadriplegia, … Continue reading →

Cerebral Palsy Medical Editor: Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term for a group of disorders affecting body movement, balance, and posture. Loosely translated, cerebral palsy means "brain paralysis." Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development or damage in one or more parts of the brain that control muscle tone and motor activity (movement). The resulting impairments first appear early in life, usually in infancy or early childhood. Infants with cerebral palsy are usually slow to reach developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking. Common to all individuals with cerebral palsy is difficulty controlling and coordinating muscles. This makes even very simple movements difficult. Types of cerebral palsy are as follows: Many individuals with cerebral palsy have normal or above average intelligence. Their ability to express their intelligence may be limited by difficulties in communicating. … Continue reading →

A Canadian national wanted in his home country since 1980 for allegedly raping a 5-year-old child with cerebral palsy was captured this week in Los Angeles County. Raymond Douglas MacLeod, 71, was taken into custody Monday morning by sheriffs deputies at his home in the 1400 block of Camper View Road in San Dimas, about 28 miles east of Los Angeles. MacLeod was also booked on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities did not release details about his felony convictions. The longtime fugitive is expected to be deported to Canada because he is in the country illegally, authorities said. The discovery of MacLeods whereabouts and alleged criminal history was made early this year by Deputy Dan Whitten of the sheriffs Parks Bureau, according to a sheriffs department statement. MacLeod was living at the East Shore Recreational Vehicle Park in the San Gabriel Valley area, which is policed by the bureau. In a 10-month investigation, Whitten learned that MacLeod had been arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1974, the statement said. MacLeod was accused of raping a 5-year-old child with cerebral palsy. While on bail during the trial, MacLeod tried to flee to … Continue reading →

Renee Benoit has done her best to work behind the scenes to help her son, but her frustrations are boiling over and shes out of ideas. Benoits 10-year-old son, Dominick, has severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is legally blind, non-verbal, cant walk and has the mental development of someone less than half his age. For the last eight months, Dominick has lived in a hospital room in Kentville, his mother making the drive from her home in Masstown several days a week, to sleep on a cot beside her son. Benoits husband, Rex, remains in Masstown where he works. A hospital is no home for a child, said Renee Benoit. Its no place for a child to live. Dominick has been living in the hospital since he was discharged from the Evergreen Home for Special Care in Kentville. Benoit said the discharge was a result of Dominicks doctor at Evergreen no longer wanting to treat him. Without a doctor, Dominick had to go. Benoit said it was about a year ago things first got difficult at Evergreen when changes were made to Dominicks care plan against her wishes. With pending dental surgery at the time, Benoit said she wanted … Continue reading →

SHELBY TWP. (WWJ) - Thanks to modern technology and medical breakthrough, a metro Detroit boy with cerebral palsy is experiencing a miracle. We first met the Kijeks last Januaryand between smiles and laughter, we met Drew. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after birth,life with Drew hasnt been easy. If he tried sitting and we let him go for even a split second, he would just tip over because he didnt have any balance, Drews mother Maureen Kijek told WWJs Kathryn Larson. But now a new door has opened for the Shelby Township boy. Drew was one of the first children in the world to participate in a procedure to treat his cerebral palsy with the use of cord blood stem cells. He would always get very frustrated, being trapped in a body that doesnt work. And so for me to see him smile and to see the look of contentment on his face and pride when he does something, however small that it might seem to other people, itshuge for him. You know, the fact that hes doing two things at once, hes sitting independently, hes able to use his hands where before he could only really do one little … Continue reading →

24 Oct 2013 09:06 A family from Washington are fundraising to pay for life changing surgery that will help one of their triplets to walk Stricken triplet Derek Russells dreams of walking tall have taken a major step forward. Surgeons at a pioneering clinic in St Louis, Missouri, have accepted the two-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer to undergo a ground- breaking operation to enable him to walk. Specialists in the US have already performed similar operations which have meant the likes of North East children Archie Anderson, Callum Brown, Ben Elliott and Lily Gordon have all been given the gift of mobility. And now Derek has been given similar hope which would allow him to play with brother Daniel and sister Terri. His mum Michelle, 34 and dad Derek, 39, from Barmston, Washington, were told Dereks only hope was to travel to America to undergo the selective dorsal rhizotomy, a procedure which can transform lives. The family, which includes brothers and sisters John, 16, Rebecca, 13, Anthony, 12 and Joseph aged nine, along with the other triplets Daniel and Terri, have set themselves a target of raising 60,000 in 12 months to pay for the treatment not available on the NHS. … Continue reading →

A scathing review of the state Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities uncovered a series of problems that directly impact thousands of state residents who live with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities. The agency did not perform proper background checks, and some subcontractors caring for patients had multiple drug convictions. The department spent millions of dollars to fix a computer system that is still not working. And the agency is violating state law and its own mission by not providing adequate care for people with developmental disabilities a finding that department officials strongly disagree with. The audit, conducted by the state comptroller, also revealed that a former deputy commissioner abused his authority by overturning a finding by agency staff that abuse and neglect played a role in the deaths of two patients being treated by the same subcontractor. The officials actions allowed the contractor to be left unaccountable for their deaths, the audit said. The former deputy commissioner, Scott Modell, now oversees child safety at the Department of Childrens Services. The agency, known as DIDD, must remedy serious problems in its service recipient safety practices, service delivery system, and information system implementation efforts, said … Continue reading →

22 Oct 2013 08:30 Youngster with cerebral palsy set to undergo surgery, but will first take on a charity head shave in aid of the Little Princess Trust and Paralympics hand cyclist Rachel Morris A brave 12-year-old girl will have her head shaved for charity before undergoing brain surgery next month. Katherine Brine lives in Elstead and goes to Rodborough Technology College in Milford. She has cerebral palsy which means she needs to use a wheelchair. On Tuesday November 12, Katherine will travel to Kings College Hospital in London to undergo a procedure called deep brain stimulation, to help her condition. Katherines hair has to be completely shaved off before the operation, but instead of letting hospital staff shave it on the day she has decided to get it done in public, in a bid to raise as much money as she can for her friend, Farnham-based Paralympic gold medallist Rachel Morris, who has had the funding for a new specially adapted car withdrawn. Katherine said: I am a normal 12-year-old girl with a difference. "It has been a challenge to come to terms with having to shave off my beautifully long, strawberry blonde hair but doing this for Rachel … Continue reading →

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 16, 2013 http://www.resource4thepeople.com/medicalmalpractice/cerebralpalsy-lawsuit.html Resource4thePeople announced today its concern over a new caregiver guideline issued by the U.S. Labor Department that Resource4thePeople feels could adversely affect thousands of cerebral palsy victims. Labor Department officials announced in their September, 2013 monthly update,* that they have tightened the Fair Labor Standards Act by narrowing what is called the companionship exemption in order to make in-home, direct support caregivers eligible for minimum wage and overtime benefits. "While well-intentioned this ruling does not take into consideration the enormous effect this measure would have in states in which these services are covered by Medicaid which does not allow payments for overtime," said Resource4thePeople. "We fully support the dedicated efforts of caregivers and the desire of parents of children born with cerebral palsy to provide for the care of their children and seek compensation in any cases in which this condition or a death may have been caused by medical malpractice." Resource4thePeople also announced that it will continue its policy of offering free consultations to families who have been affected by allegations of medical malpractice that may have resulted in cerebral palsy or birth injuries. "Consumers should be aware that there may … Continue reading →

17 Oct 2013 08:02 Readers can help Cain Burns on his path to walking for the first time in his life by collecting Wish tokens Cain Burns could soon be walking tall if Chronicle readers get behind the young lad. The seven-year-old, who suffers from cerebral palsy, wants to travel to America for a life-changing operation which could see him walk for the first time in his life. Cain has already passed the first stage of selection for pioneering Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy treatment at St Louis Hospital, Missouri. But his parents Chris and Sarah Burns need to raise 55,000 to send him across the Atlantic for the operation. They have already started fundraising from their North Tyneside home and by staging a number of events, but they have a long way to go to reach that target. In a bid to boost donations, they have now signed up to take part in the Chronicles Wish campaign. This year Wish has 35,000 to give away to deserving groups across the North East who are in need of a cash boost to support their worthy cause. Cains dad, Chris, said: We have managed to raise quite a bit in the last year … Continue reading →