Meet Mikael

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy is the second most common subtype of Cerebral Palsy. There are four main types of CP:

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy
2. Dyskinetic or Dystonic Cerebral Palsy
3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Dystonic CP is a form of Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy. Mikael is four years old and was diagnosed with Dystonic CP just days after birth. Mikael experiences repetitive twisting and uncontrollable movements along with muscle contractions. These contractions can cause pain and often interfere with his sleep. They also affect speech and eating, which means that the speech therapy, physio, and occupational therapy offered at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital helps with movement and communication and prevents and/or corrects malnutrition.

Some children only experience dystonia on one side of the body, called focal dystonia. Mikael has generalized dystonia, which affects his entire body, and needs help walking and balancing.

Today Mikael is getting a standing frame.

Parents and children move from one area of the physio and OT clinics to another. Speech therapists and dieticians join each team as they see up to five or six families simultaneously in various spaces of the large room.

With so much going on, it’s difficult to not be distracted. However, the parents are laser-focused on the one-on-one specialist advice they’re being given.

Mikael’s parents have already been through it all. They have been coming to the Children’s Hospital since Mikael’s infancy. They have seen many miracles with their new-born in ICU for six weeks after he stopped breathing on his second day. And every visit to the Hospital is an added gift. Mikael’s new standing frame will help strengthen the muscles in his legs. With every bit of development and progress, Mikael’s options expand exponentially. For his parents, who were told that their son might not be able to participate very much, or even at all, every slight improvement is a phenomenal expression of faith, hope and love.

Mikael is, in his essence, that very expression of love, faith and hope.

“He’s very busy,” says his mom, Kashiefa. Her husband holds their son and quickly adds that Mikael is his biggest inspiration.

“At least you can see he wants to be like other children. When we go to playgrounds, he sees other kids running around, playing. And you can see he also wants to be there with them. We believe he will be there because of the willpower he has.”

Mikael’s dad firmly believes in his son’s capabilities and potential to reach specific goals and milestones. Mikael watches the other children in the therapy room. Safely held in his dad’s arms, this little one is processing so much. He will meet all his challenges with his parents’ loving support and unfaltering belief.

Mikael and his parents attend the Children’s Hospital every month for physiotherapy. They’ve seen massive improvements over the past few months, and they accredit it to the various therapies their child receives here.

Every child here at the Cerebral Palsy clinic has the same look of determination and curiosity that makes their parents so proud. They’ve already come so far.

With your gifts of faith and charity, they can go a little further every day and stand a little stronger. Donate to the building of a new Orthopaedic Unit at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. 100% of your donation will go towards the project.