Patient Stories > Nadja Gonzalez
Ten-year-old Nadja Gonzalez was born with
cerebral palsy (CP), a diagnosis that impairs the body's control of
movement due to damage of the developing brain. CP is one of the most
common pediatric disabilities, affecting between two and four of every
1,000 babies born in the U.S.
When Nadja first came to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children about two years ago, her biggest challenge was her mobility. Her highest level of achievement was a modified "commando crawl," putting her elbows on the floor and bending her knees as she dragged herself forward on the floor. She was also easily frustrated and had difficulty expressing herself and communicating what she wanted.
Nadja's physical and occupational therapists started working with her on developmentally appropriate skills-bumping up and down stairs, transitioning from sitting to standing and now riding a tricycle with supervision. Eventually, she started using a walker to go short distances, but she was unable to hold onto the walker without assistance.
Once Nadja learned to use her walker, her mother took her outside to practice in between therapy sessions. As Nadja started taking her first steps down the street, all of her neighbors came outside to watch. They lined the sidewalk, cheering Nadja on, like she was her own one-person parade, as her mother watched, crying and snapping photos.
As a result of her therapy, Nadja's mom says she has seen tremendous changes in her daughter. Nadja now uses her walker when it's nice outside and is able to walk about five feet on her own with close supervision. Her communication skills have also improved and she does not act out as much when she gets frustrated.
Nadja looks forward to her weekly therapy sessions. Her mom says she loves her therapists and considers them a part of her family. She frequently asks her mom to bring them home cooked meals and saves any candy she gets to share with them during her sessions. Her mom is so excited with the progress she is making and is optimistic about Nadja's future.
