Sun-Beams is a collection of links to stories, articles, photos, or videos I have come across that I believe will inspire, inform, or encourage you, as well as my favorite photo posted on my other blog, Violet Film, from the past week.
True Inclusion Is Invisible – This post on the Special Olympics blog is something that I think about a lot. Each week when I create my Sun-Beams I wonder if I’m actually fighting against what I’m trying to achieve.
Cerebral palsy dancer selected as billboard idol – I’d love to see a video of this guy!
Daughter inspires Xavier soccer exhibition – There’s no doubt about it: even the youngest child (with no known accomplishments) can inspire greatness in others.
Films give uplifting portrayal of people with Down syndrome – If you’re near Berkshire County, Mass., here’s one way you can spend your Sunday!
How Botox Helped Girl With Cerebral Palsy Walk – Using Botox for CP isn’t new – Sarah Kate’s had it done many times – but I haven’t heard of this combination before. Anyone know more?
Photo of the Week:
I don’t know about this specific indication but as a woman whose husband works for the company that makes Botox, I love stories like this. Although my husband does NOT work on the Botox product and never has, we know quite a bit about it and as you probably know, Botox has been used for conditions associated with Cerebal Palsy and many other non-cosmetic indications for several years, long before it was ever used for cosmetic applications. It is a product that has been used for a many indications and I’m always glad to hear, especially, to hear stories about it helping children with CP. I know it can be painful. 🙁 My only quibble with the article is that the first paragraph makes it sound like it was used for cosmetic first and other more helpful indications have come out of that. Uhm, no. (Although, it’s true that the migraine headache and severe perspiration indications were approved by the FDA after the Botox Cosmetic was approved.)
That bothered me, as well, Adrienne. I think Botox first became widely known because of its cosmetic use, but you are right that the medical usage came first.
Botox is the one thing Sarah Kate fears in terms of treatment. She remembers how painful it is, and she doesn’t complain much. Her PT occasionally uses the threat of Botox if other motivators don’t work to get her to stretch and do her exercises. 🙂
I agree that first paragraph is quite misleading and that the use of Botox for kids with CP is somehow new. My son’s PT is suggesting Botox in his calf to work on his heel plant. She hasn’t discussed it too much with us yet, but hasn’t mentioned anything about it being painful. My son is only three and while we trust her implicitly I am a bit worried now by what you have said. How old was Sarah Kate when she had her first treatment?
It IS painful, Kate. Sarah Kate has had it several times – the first was when she was three. However, it’s only painful while they are doing it, so we felt it was worth the tradeoff. They inject it with a needle, of course, but it’s not like a shot because they have to move the needle around to “spread it” through the muscle. It is not pleasant to watch, and while Sarah Kate didn’t remember it the first few times, the last two (when she was older) she did remember. The good news is that once it’s over, it’s over and they don’t continue to be in pain.
I’m a first time commenter, writing to say the girl who received botox made the news again. This time there was an incident w/ the TSA: http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/04/25/042512-news-tsa-complaint-1-3/