One of the most difficult aspects of having a child with cerebral palsy is the uncertainty. Doctors are often unable to predict whether a child may be able to walk, talk or live a life that is at all independent of a caretaker. A young boy from North Dakota, however, is surprising his parents, teachers and doctors and making huge improvements since undergoing a controversial stem cell procedure. For the first time in his life, he is able to take steps without the aid of crutches.
The seven-year-old has spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that results in stiff, twisted and spastic leg muscles, often resulting from birth trauma. He underwent stem-cell therapy almost two years ago, an experimental procedure that replaced damaged cells with healthy ones. Doctors believe the treatment, which was performed with the help of $20,000 in community donations, has helped him with his speech and hand movement as well as his newfound walking abilities. Many are critical of the stem cell procedure, saying it gives parents false hope, and that there is no way to predict or guarantee results.
No cure exists today for people with cerebral palsy, but advancements in stem cells and their uses may help children and adults with cerebral palsy move toward more independent lives. Procedures like the one this young boy underwent are far from ordinary, but they are part of a new wave of treatments and therapies that give parents hope for their children’s future.
Cappolino, Dodd, Krebs LLC – Birth trauma lawyers
