Cerebral palsy describes a group of disorders that affect a persons ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Cerebral palsy is caused by brain injury or atypical brain development that happens around the time of birth or early in life. In some infants, symptoms are evident soon after birth. In others, diagnosis comes in later infancy or toddlerhood. Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition, meaning the injury to the brain doesnt change, however, the effects of cerebral palsy often progress as people get older. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you have time to learn how cerebral palsy will affect them. Every child who has cerebral palsy has a unique combination of strengths and challenges. No one can predict where your child will fall within this diagnosis. Having cerebral palsy doesnt mean your child will have cognitive impairment. Only 30 to 50 percent of children who have cerebral palsy have some level of cognitive impairment, ranging from mild to severe. Most people who have cerebral palsy live long, fulfilling and active lives. Early intervention and appropriate treatment can help your child improve their abilities and ease cerebral palsy symptoms. Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare is here to … Continue reading →

A young wrestling fan battling cerebral palsy got the surprise of a lifetime after coming face-to-face with his hero, WWE superstar John Cena, at a recent live WWE event. The little boy is 12-year-old Payton Marion, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. According to his father Justin, Payton is all there mentally but suffers from debilitating physical issues as a result of his condition. As Justin says, Paytons two favourite sports in the world are NASCAR, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling and his favourite athlete by far is John Cena, the 16-time WWE World Champion and one of the biggest stars in the company. The impact these two sports have had on my son have been soothing and very helpful on his development, Justin said. The joy on his face and the fast, rapid movement his little arm goes, when he hears John Cenas intro music is overwhelming and heartwarming. In fact, Justin credits Cena for inspiring and motivating his son during his physical rehabilitation sessions, even referring to his energetic right arm as his wrestling arm. WATCH:WWE WrestleMania 33 stage catches fire after Undertakers exit So when Justin heard the WWE would he holding a live … Continue reading →

TIMONIUM, Md. Engineering students at Dulaney High School in Timonium put the finishing touches Wednesday on a special wheelchair they designed for a 9-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. Download the WBAL app For the past six months, the students have been building a therapeutic chair for Chandler Winchester. It's a wheelchair-bicycle hybrid that Chandler's family hopes will eventually help him to exercise his limbs. Chandler's family applied for the device through the Baltimore-based nonprofit V-LINC, which connects volunteer engineers with families in need. High school seniors designed the chair and built it from scratch around a car seat. The young engineers are calling it "Chandler's Chariot." "To work on this has just been fun. Only 12 of us here, we all know each other, all know what we're doing. (It's) just a blast," said Alex Najera, a Dulaney senior. "This has all been their design and their idea, and they worked hard, and they've been so excited from day one to do this for Chandler," said Chandler's mother, Dana Winchester. Chandler's family will spend the next two weeks testing the new chair and making recommendations so students can make any necessary modifications. WEBVTT IS PROM SEASON.DONNA: STAY SAFE ON PROM … Continue reading →

TOPSHAM He can neither walk nor talk, but Mt. Ararat High School senior Rusty Wilkins has the drive to start his own cancer-fighting fundraiser. The Rusty Rolls 5K Road Race, benefiting the American Cancer Society, will take place at the Topsham Recreational Field on Foreside Road at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Registration costs $15 per person and $25 per family. Since Wilkins friend, Rustys Market owner Rusty Rancourt, is fighting cancer, they both decided to put all registration fees toward ACS Relay For Life of Brunswick. Wilkins has cerebral palsy, which requires him to remain in a wheelchair; he communicates only through a laptop computer. He has been manager of his schools baseball, basketball and field hockey teams. With cousin James Anderson, he has completed several 5K and 10K events, and two marathons. Rustys Market will offer free food to participants, and the first 100 registrants get free t-shirts. Log onto mtasports.com to register. Here is the original post: Topsham student with cerebral palsy launches road race - The Forecaster … Continue reading →

Peter Uzoho The Founder of Cerebral Palsy Centre, Surulere, Lagos, Mrs. NonyeNweke, has called on the government to make special provisions to cater for children living with cerebral palsy, a psycho-physical deformity caused by damage in the brain. Speaking in Lagos recently, during a walk tagged Living BeyondLimitation which was intended to help create more awareness on the sickness, Nweke said the Nigerian government had not done anything to help in managing cases of CP in the country, pointing that a lot of parents have their children diagnosed with CP but dont know where to go to for information and counseling. She said government should have a provision for not just children with disabilities but for organisations such as Cerebral Palsy Centres that are managing children with the ailment. Right now we are looking at having our permanent site. We are praying for the government to give us land so we can build a place that the children can have enough space, she noted. She enjoined parents, neighbours, religious bodies and the larger society to stop all forms of discrimination against children and adults having cerebral palsy, noting that they should understand that having a child with such disability did … Continue reading →

Smallwood told The Huffington Post she originally started herblog, fifiandmo.com,because she felt isolated as a new special needs mom. Her mission has since blossomed into an opportunity to spread awareness, connect with families that have similar stories and raise funds to alleviate the costs associated with Finleys therapies and surgeries. Smallwood predicts on her website that Finley will needdozens of surgeries before she turns 15. Finley and her mom are often photographed in adorable T-shirt outfits, and its no coincidence: partnering with small shops that make shirts is one way theyve built their audience tonearly 60,000 Instagram followers.The brands share images of Smallwood and Finley wearing their shirts, often prompting other mothers reach out to Smallwood to share their stories. They would DM me and say My kid has a walker, too, she said. So it became a great passion for me to get our pictures shared, and it worked amazingly. These two are spreading awareness, boosting small businesses, and doing it all in style. But while Smallwood told The Huffington Post they love wearing mommy-and-me T-shirts, Finleys favorite outfit is either pajamas, or anything with a tutu! More: This 3-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy Is Spreading Awareness In Style - … Continue reading →