The family of a Connecticut boy who was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy has been awarded $58 million by a jury that claims the child's injuries could have been prevented by physicians during the birth. According to local ABC affiliate WABC-TV, Daniel D'Attilo, now 8 years old, needs constant care as he is unable to eat, walk or speak by himself. The jury ruled that $8 million should be awarded for the boy's medical bills with the remainder compensating for suffering and pain. "He got his life taken away from him, and the only form of justice [...]

The Easter Seals Blake Foundation's second annual Walk With Me event was held recently, benefiting children and adults in Southern Arizona who are suffering from disabilities including cerebral palsy. The Arizona Daily Star reports that the non-profit organization provides educational and community-living programs, benefiting more than 10,000 people each year. "We care for people with many different disabilities, from cerebral palsy and Down syndrome to neurological problems, traumatic brain injuries, learning disabilities and developmental delays," said Franz Stallkamp, chairman of the Walk With Me event. Stallkamp added that a number of the services and programs offered by the organization may [...]

A northwestern Pennsylvania hospital known as UPMC Hamot has been ordered to provide more than $21 million to the family of a boy who suffers from severe disabilities after a birth injury at the hospital. The Associated Press reports that the verdict includes $19.6 million for future medical expenses for the boy, Ja'Kareon Graham. The expenses will reportedly be paid in annual installments through 2081, should the boy live that long, the news source said. The rest of the money that the hospital must pay covers past medical expenses and the lost earning capacity over the lifetime of the child, [...]

A St. Petersburg, Florida couple recently filed a cerebral palsy lawsuit against Bayfront Medical Center over a birthing device that allegedly caused their child to develop the condition, the St. Petersburg Times reports. According to the news provider, Michelle Morales had been in labor for hours when her obstetrician allegedly asked nurses to bring in a device called a vacuum extractor. Using the device, the doctor allegedly delivered the baby, Landon Harrington, at 4 pounds, 3 ounces in September 2009. The lawsuit claims that Landon is now blind, suffers from cerebral palsy and is not expected to ever be able [...]

United Cerebral Palsy of South Central Pennsylvania is planning to establish a new preschool program for children between the ages of 4 and 5, reports the Chambersburg Public Opinion. According to the news provider, the Peach Tree Kids' Preschool is designed to give children a structured learning environment and will assist with the cognitive development of those suffering from cerebral palsy. "The preschool's small class size ensures each child benefits from personalized attention," Jennifer Hawbecker, the organization's manager of children's programs, told the news source. "The focus is hands-on learning where a child becomes an active participant engaged in the [...]

A Missouri woman who filed a cerebral palsy lawsuit against St. Louis University and the doctor she claims is responsible for her baby's development of the condition has reportedly decided to switch attorneys. The St. Clair County Record reports that Linda Overmeyer filed the lawsuit against Dr. William Keenan and the university for damages exceeding $50,000 for each of the six medical malpractice counts she alleges. Overmeyer claims that Keenan and the university, his employer, acted negligently in treating her newborn daughter Haley during her birth in January 2005. She claims that Keenan failed to resuscitate, monitor and properly treat [...]

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee has reportedly decided to link up with United Cerebral Palsy to offer a promotion to fans for all of the team's Wednesday home games throughout the season, The Associated Press reports. According to the news provider, McGehee's son, Mackail, suffers from cerebral palsy, which is "a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth," according to the Mayo Clinic's website. As part of the promotion, for $40 fans will receive an infield box ticket located in the area designated [...]

Students at Whitesboro High School in Utica, New York, are reportedly working on different kinds of therapy equipment that would help those suffering from cerebral palsy, the Utica Observer-Dispatch reports. According to the news source, the students recently presented their latest work to Upstate Cerebral Palsy, a non-profit organization focused on helping people afflicted with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The equipment that the high school students were focusing on dealt with improving the balance or mobility of the patients, the news provider said. The class the students partake in is part of "Project Lead the Way," which is a [...]

A new study conducted by the Cerebra Research Unit at the Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry found no statistically significant evidence that cranial osteopathy was a beneficial treatment option for those suffering from cerebral palsy. The study, which examined 142 children from the Greater London and southwest England areas between the ages of 5 and 12, was published online recently in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. According to ScienceDaily.com, osteopathy has become a popular treatment over the past few years for children suffering from cerebral palsy. The only true difference that the researchers discovered in the study was [...]

The family of a 5-year-old South Carolina boy with cerebral palsy is reportedly reaching out for assistance to acquire a motorized wheelchair in order to provide the child with some sense of independence, reports News Channel 7, a local CBS affiliate. According to the news provider, the child, Landon, suffers from cerebral palsy and cannot walk or feed himself. The custom wheelchair would help him tremendously, particularly as he gets ready for school this coming fall. "In order for him to have the life that he deserves he needs all of the tools to allow that," said Landon's grandfather Walter [...]