“Look Mom I can see out the window now!” said little Marat* as he sat in a chair that our CBR team is creating for him especially.
Marat is 12 years old and has Cerebral Palsy. He has never seen a doctor or had any sort of therapy and as a result his knees are permanently fixed at 90’ and one hip is dislocated. The pain caused by his hip makes it incredibly difficult to get him in a good position in lying and sitting to ensure that his spine grows in the correct way. We tried ready-made specialized chairs that we use with other kids with cerebral palsy, but it was no good. In the end our design engineer bought a big piece of foam and together with the therapists they painstakingly cut the foam around Marat’s body so that it fits him like a glove and he can sit in a good position. When his body is firm and secure in the chair, it gives his arms and head more freedom of movement and he can do some intentional movement with his hands and he can move his head to look around him and out the window!
A good, supportive chair has once again improved the quality of life of a child with Cerebral Palsy.
*Name changed
