Legal and Medical Resources to Empower Cerebral Palsy Families
1-800-CPFamily (273-2645)
By Kelly McLaughlin Money questions can quickly rise to the top of the list of parents’ concerns after they learn their child has cerebral palsy. Who is going to pay for all the services the child will need, such as doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, home health nurses and equipment? What [...]
By Lee Vander Loop Most parents of children who develop cerebral palsy leave the hospital with an initial diagnosis of some type of brain injury, although the extent of the damage is unknown. Other parents may be sent home with a vague concern about low Apgar scores and little else. Symptoms such as lack of [...]
By Teresa Kelly (Editor’s note: this is the third in a series of articles focused on developmental delays as they may show up in a child with cerebral palsy) Most, but not all, children with cerebral palsy (CP) are diagnosed by 18 months of age. Children can grow on very different timetables based on a [...]
Cerebral palsy is the umbrella term for brain damage, and the neurological disorders that can result are many and varied. Nonspastic (extrapyramidal) cerebral palsy includes dyskinetic cerebral palsy (subdivided into athetoid and dystonic forms) and ataxic cerebral palsy. Ataxic cerebral palsy is the rarest type of cerebral palsy and involves the entire body. Ataxic cerebral [...]
Up to 80% of all children with cerebral palsy suffer some degree of spasticity, which causes stiff, jerky movements. Depending on severity, spasticity can lead to severe, permanent muscle contractures. The pain of untreated spasticity can also be so distracting that it’s even more difficult for a child to concentrate on other therapies, so early [...]
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In October, I wrote several articles titled “Diary of a Crisis” about a medical emergency we experienced with our daughter, Danielle. Danielle has suffered from severe spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy since birth. The past 18 months have been a constant struggle with medical professionals to get answers about our daughter's deteriorating health.
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Birthing classes and many books about pregnancy help parents-to-be prepare for the birth experience and some of their choices, especially when it comes to managing pain. However, few deal with potential complications, preferring to leave that scary ”what if” in the hands of doctors. However, my experience as a practicing obstetrician for more than 20 years is that it’s vitally important for parents to know what standards of care are and how to advocate for themselves and their child if these standards are not being met.
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