The Amarillo Globe-News had an interesting story recently about a 12 year old that suffers from cerebral palsy, who is on an awareness tour spanning the country.
The news outlet reported that Rebecca Foley is on a 22-state tour called Ask Me About CP: 2014 Trip Across America to Amarillo. The tour started on June 29, and includes meet-and-greets and a presentation about the Treasured Tyrtle Project, which allows “people to get to know Rebecca and share a day in her life.”
Foley is taking the tour with her father and older sister. The Treasured Tyrtle Project is named after a collection of turtles Foley has had since she was younger. The tour serves as an effort to celebrate her life and raise scholarship funds for children and families affected by the disorder.
Rev. Jack Foley, Rebecca’s father, told the newspaper that the scholarships will “provide opportunities to attend special needs camps, and purchase equipment and supplies, such as handicap-accessible vans and other items needed to help children coping with cerebral palsy.”
Foley suffers from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and epilepsy—all of which prevent her from walking, talking or communicating like most people.
The tour will serve as a family event with presentations on the disorder, and includes stops in Carlsbad, N.M., Tucson, Ariz. and Las Vegas. In Amarillo, the family stopped by the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
“My older daughter and I were talking about vacation plans for the summer … our daddy-daughter trip,” Jack Foley said, according to the Globe-News. “So we said, ‘Why don’t we not only include Rebecca, but make her the focus of the trip?’ And the project sort of evolved over time.”
What Caused My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy results in intellectual limitations, hearing deficits, vision impairment, behavioral problems, seizures, speaking difficulties and learning disabilities. All of these issues require extended therapy and rehabilitation. It also results in specialized education needs, which result in increased costs for not only parents, but also for taxpayers.
We salute attempts to try to raise funds for cerebral palsy awareness. It should also be noted that cerebral palsy can potentially stem from botched deliveries and delayed Caesarean sections when a child is born. Other birth injuries resulting from negligence include deformities, brain damage, erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia.
Contact the birth injury attorneys at our firm immediately if your son or daughter is suffering from cerebral palsy, so that we may advise you of your legal rights. We may investigate your case to see if negligence played a role in your child’s condition.
Call us today at 1 (800) 460-0606 to schedule a free consultation.
[Did You Know: Only 56 percent of children with cerebral palsy can walk without assistance.]
