While we support National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month all March-long, go green on the 25th, specifically, to show your support for people with the condition. Cerebral palsy is a permanent brain disorder that may cause physical and mental disabilities due to damage or abnormalities in the brain. It is often caused by brain damage sustained during the labor and delivery process, and may be the result of medical malpractice.
During the month of March, we support those impacted by brain injuries and the challenges they face. We can also spread awareness for Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury that occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen for a period of time, as well as cerebral palsy, which affects 1-4 out of 1,000 infants born in the United States. Brain injuries such as HIE may result in permanent brain damage and may cause a number of disabilities.
After sustaining a brain injury at birth due to negligent medical care, a Northampton girl and her family were awarded a settlement of approximately $25 million. The girl was born in 2010 at a hospital run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The trust’s chief medical officer apologized for the poor standard of care they received, which “regrettably was not in accordance with the high standards that the Trust and our staff aim to deliver.”
A grandmother in Florida is selling homemade items to help offset some of her grandson’s medical expenses. Her grandson suffered a brain injury when he was born, leading to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy. Medical bills were piling up for the family, so she decided to step in to help.
The month of March has been designated as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month for over 15 years. The awareness campaign aims to support those living with the condition by educating the public about cerebral palsy. Caused by brain damage (often sustained at birth), cerebral palsy impacts the body’s ability to move and balance. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy may not reach milestones such as rolling over, sitting, or waking. People with the condition can experience mild to severe symptoms, which may be managed by certain therapies.
An 11-year old boy from Washington who lives with cerebral palsy has overcome many obstacles in his life. Born prematurely, he has struggled to walk due to his condition. After undergoing a successful dorsal rhizotomy surgery last year, however, he is thriving in sports such as sled hockey and wheelchair basketball. In July 2021, just months after his surgery, he set a national record in javelin throwing at the Move United Junior Nationals.
According to a new report covered by multiple news outlets, the National Center for Health Statistics shows alarming data relating to maternal deaths. The report finds that pregnancy-related deaths in 2020 among black women numbered 55 per 100,000 births, which is almost three times as many deaths as among white mothers. Maternal deaths among Hispanic women also increased, from 13 to 18 per 100,000 births in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
On December 7, 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris marked the first Maternal Health Day of Action. The day is a nationwide call to action to improve maternal health in the United States. According to a 2018 investigation by USA Today, more women are dying due to childbirth complications in the U.S. than the rest of the developed world. A CNN article reports that the U.S. continues to have the highest maternal death rate among developed countries.
A holiday caravan paraded through a Chicago suburb in December 2021, bringing holiday cheer to people with disabilities. The 50-year-long tradition was put on by members of the United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago.
