Cerebral Palsy

Birth-related brain injury

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition caused by brain injury during pregnancy, childbirth or post-birth.

The damaged parts of the brain do not recover but the symptoms can be improved.

These include:
• seizures
• spasms
• visual and hearing problems
• learning disorders
If rehabilitation and therapy is provided early enough, it can make a vital difference.

For many of the world’s poorest children this support simply isn’t available – much less affordable.

cbm’s Community Care Workers travel to towns, villages and slums, find children with cerebral palsy and develop local support and rehabilitation groups.

This means parents can get the help their children desperately need and find companionship and support with other parents.

Botan's Story

By the age of three, Botan had still not started walking or talking.  Botan has cerebral palsy.  Just a small amount of damage to her brain during pregnancy or birth has affected her ability to walk, hear and speak.

Isolated in poor rural Thailand, her family did all they could for her:  building makeshift handrails around their shack, and a cardboard chair.

Botan needed more help though, in the form of cbm's community-based rehabilitation.  That's help close to home.  Sending a child far away for treatment can be terrifying.  It can shatter a family.

Botan's family is learning how to give her the physiotherapy she needs, as well as making homemade equipment like a standing frame.  Strapped into the frame, Botan gets to experience what it feels like to be on her feet.  It is a remarkable first step to getting her to walk at last. 

There is a life for Botan beyond cerebral palsy.  With your support, her life can be wonderful, because she is receiving the help she needs, close to her home.

Facts about cerebral palsy