Eleven-year-old Abbey Vallance has cerebral palsy. She is unable to speak, experiences frequent seizures and uses a wheelchair to maintain mobility. She has undergone multiple surgeries in order to achieve a better, less painful quality of life. Her mother, Cynthia, is always on the lookout for new ways to enrich Abbey’s life. Cynthia first thought of yoga as a way to deal with her daughter’s anxiety regarding an upcoming surgery.
After inquiring at a local yoga studio about an instructor willing to work with Abbey and her disability, Cynthia was put in touch with a registered occupational therapist who includes yoga as a part of her therapy. An occupational therapist uses both mental and physical life activities (like writing a letter or cooking dinner) as a means to strengthen essential motor skills. Yoga has proven to provide both physical and mental benefits to its practitioners.
The Windsor Star reported that Abbey participates in one hour sessions, twice a week with her therapist Robyn Emde. Cynthia is hopeful that the stretches and other adapted yoga poses that are part of the exercise will allow Abbey to one day be able to stand upright. Cynthia said she feels that being at the same eye level as her peers will empower Abbey.
Although there is not yet a cure for cerebral palsy, there are many beneficial ways of treating the symptoms associated with the disability. However, some of these alternative therapies can be expensive. You should not have to deny these types of therapies to your child with cerebral palsy because you are unable to afford it. If you are struggling to support someone diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to a baby brain injury, contact our cerebral palsy lawyers to learn more about your right to seek compensation from negligent parties.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – cerebral palsy attorneys
[Did You Know: March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. The US Senate designated March 25 as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.]
