The New York Post reported in August that a jury awarded $100 million to a Staten Island family for a birth injury that caused their daughter to develop cerebral palsy. Stephanie Debes and her twin sister Amanda, now 17, were born three months early at St. Vincent’s Medical Center on Staten Island. According to the lawsuit, the girls’ premature birth resulted from lack of proper care. The jury determined that hospital staff acted negligently by failing to recognize Catherine Debes’ contractions before she went into labor and failing to prevent the pre-term delivery of her daughters. As a result of her premature birth, Stephanie suffered a brain injury that resulted in cerebral palsy. According to the family’s attorney, Stephanie is “imprisoned in her own body” and “can’t even roll over in bed.” Her father describes her life as “a pretty lonely one” with few friends. He says the hospital failed…
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Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Home
Man with Cerebral Palsy Finishes Ironman Marathon
October 22, 2012The 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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How Horses Help Cerebral Palsy Patients
October 19, 2012There 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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