What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the name given to a collection of movement disorders. Movement disorders are conditions in which a person's muscles do not respond normally. CP is also known as static encephalopathy. It is caused by brain damage that occurs before, during, or just after birth. A person with CP is often also affected by other conditions caused by brain damage. If a person is affected by CP his or her muscles may become either rigid or very loose. Sometimes an individual may lose control of his or her muscles, resulting in problems with balance and coordination. The condition may affect the legs only, which is called paraplegia or diplegia; the arm and leg on one side of the body, which is known as hemiplegia; or all four limbs, called quadriplegia. Other problems experienced by someone with CP include visual or hearing problems, mental retardation (see mental retardation entry), learning disabilities (see learning disorders entry), and attention deficit disorder (ADD). Some CP patients experience no problems beyond their movement disorder. CP affects about 500,000 children and adults in the United States. About 6,000 new cases are diagnosed in newborns and young children each year. CP is not a genetic disorder, and there is currently no way of predicting which children will develop it. CP is not a disease and is not communicable, which means it cannot be passed from one person to another. CP is a nonprogressive disorder. That is, it does not become better or worse over time. However, some conditions may appear to become worse. For example, when muscles are rigid for a long period, arms and legs may become deformed. In such cases, additional treatments may be necessary. Source: http://www.faqs.org/health/Sick-V1/Cerebral-Palsy.html

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

PERCs New Procedure

In the past 30 years there have been great advances in both preventing and treating cerebral palsy. Yet the number of babies born with the disease remains about the same.
A novel procedure pioneered on the East Coast that is now being done by one doctor in the Houston area. It’s called PERCs, and it offers new hope for children with cerebral palsy.
Cruz Martinez was born premature and with cerebral palsy. He knows what it is to struggle.
Growing up, determination served him well.

“I just never had the attitude he was different,” his mother Michelle Martinez said.
At 16, Cruz’s room reflects his passion for music. It doesn’t show how difficult going to a concert could be. “I would have to stop for at least a minute or two to catch my breath or take a time out to let my legs rest, and I hate doing that,” Cruz said. “That was one of the things that worried us the most, I think, was him falling so much,” his mom said.

The Martinez family opted for a new surgery.

At the University of Texas medical Branch in Galveston, Dr. David Yngve carefully makes tiny incisions along Cruz’s leg in order to nick the tendons where they blend into muscles that are too tight. “Their spasticity can be less by loosening up some of the tightness,” Dr. Yngve said. “They can stretch out their legs more and walk more quickly and easily.”
The hope is to give cerebral palsy patients more movement and more independence. The procedure only takes about an hour, and surgeons believe the benefits will last a lifetime. Two months after surgery, Cruz’s walk may not be perfect, but he now moves 60 percent faster.
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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Hello

Hello. I hope you find some information you can use, or make a friend, learn something new, share your wisdom, tips, struggles, and successes!

I will provide a link (on the left) where I share Elena's story. I'm a part of that story, being mom and all, but it really is her story. I'm currently working on that, and within a few days, I hope to have it available to you.

You will also not find commerical advertisements on my blog. I refuse to allow sponsors banners and pictures blinking and flashing all over the place! It's not that I'm against advertizing, but when I do decide to put an ad on here, I'm very particular. Do you have your own website or blog? I'd be glad to put a link here. If you own a web based business, such as a craft or hobby, I'd also be glad to add that as well. Feel free to leave a link to your site or email address.

My goal for the Cerebral Palsy Network is to start out with a blog, and hopefully expand it to a fully functioning website. My goal is to provide up to the minute news and information. And with that information, I promise to take great care in providing accurate, relevant and tested information. I will not provide medical advice, but will pass along information when I can verify it's accuracy.

Please stop back soon as I'll be updating regularly. I have already provided a few CP related links, and will add them when I determine that the content is valid.

Thanks!
Jill
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