Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy
Man with Cerebral Palsy Finishes Ironman Marathon
The Ironman World Championship is one of the most grueling sporting events on the planet. To complete the race officially, competitors must swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles in under 17 hours. Bonner Paddock, a 37-year-old from California, finished with 21 minutes to spare. He is the first person with cerebral palsy to finish the race. He suffered complications during birth when his umbilical cord nearly strangled him. A Track Record of Perseverance This is not the first record Paddock has set. In 2008, he became the first person with cerebral palsy to climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is 19,340 feet tall. The documentary Beyond Limits chronicles his journey. In addition to completing the race, Paddock raised over $500,000 for OM Foundation, his charity that supports learning centers for disabled children. Paddock trained for two years to complete the event. Every morning he…
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Posted in Cerebral Palsy Tagged bonner paddock, cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy attorneys, ironman, ironman world championship 1 Comment
How Horses Help Cerebral Palsy Patients
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, a collection of ailments related to muscle control, posture and balance. However, there are certain forms of therapy that can strengthen muscles and prevent the condition from worsening. One form of therapy is known as horse therapy, or Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT). “The movement of the horse actually mimics our walk,” said Tammy Farris, owner of Kiddy Up!, an organization that provides EAT to children with mobility difficulties. She explained that these children strengthen their balance and walking-related muscles by riding horses. Jason Griggs’ daughter Kiley is one of Farris’s clients. He says that watching his daughter make progress fills him with pride. “Our dream is still there,” Griggs said. “Our dream is for our child to walk one day. And each day that goes by, we’re getting closer and closer. She’s getting stronger and stronger.” According to the Centers for Disease Control…
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Lawmaker Promises Change After State Supreme Court Tosses Cerebral Palsy Rape Case
View more videos at: http://nbcconnecticut.com. A woman who goes by her initials L.K. has a severe form of cerebral palsy. She is 29 years old, and throughout a recent court testimonial, she could only communicate by pointing at letters to spell words, or by pointing to the words “yes” and “no.” It took her four days to finish her testimony. She was testifying against Richard Fourtin Jr., a man who she says sexually assaulted her. He was dating her mother at the time. The Connecticut Supreme Court sided with Fourtin, claiming that L.K. still could have communicated her refusal despite her ability to talk. The decision rested on testimony from one of L.K.’s aids who claims that she kicks and groans when she receives food that she does not want. “[N]o reasonable jury could have concluded that she was physically helpless at the time of the assault,” the Appellate Court…
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Posted in Cerebral Palsy Tagged cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy lawyers, gerald fox, richard fourtin Comments Off on Lawmaker Promises Change After State Supreme Court Tosses Cerebral Palsy Rape Case
