Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association - Support for children with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, childhood stroke, infant stroke, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, neonatal stroke, brain bleed, stroke in utero

Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association
Support for Children with Hemiplegia, Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, Infant Stroke or Childhood Stroke

Welcome to the Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, offering support and information to families of infants, children, and young adults who have hemiplegic cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, prenatal stroke, childhood stroke, infant stroke, perinatal stroke, neonatal stroke, in utero stroke, and stroke in neonates.

CHASA is growing! You'll find hemiplegia and stroke information and support on our three new websites.

CHASA website - Information on hemiplegia and hemiplegia-related disabilities and treatment.

HEMI-KIDS website - Email Support Group of over 900 families of children who have hemiplegia or hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Join and you'll have access to over 250,000 archived messages from the past 5 years.

KIDS HAVE STROKES website - Information on infant and childhood stroke, including diagnosing stroke in an infant or child, causes of pediatric stroke, childhood stroke facts, how you can help increase awareness of pediatric stroke, and updates on the latest in utero, infant, and childhood stroke research. You'll also find a list of pediatric stroke researchers and a list of infant and childhood stroke clinical trials and studies which need participants.

JOIN the HEMI-KIDS EMAIL SUPPORT GROUP.

We can also help you locate other families of children who have hemiplegia in your state or country. We are creating databases for families in each state and country so that you can find support closer to home. The initial phase of this project will be completed in January 2005.

Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, Prenatal Stroke, Hemiparesis - Support for Families by the Children's Hemipleiga And Stroke Association

Site Index more detailed links at the bottom of this page

Hemiplegia
Cerebral Palsy
Rehabilitation
Therapy
Online Support
Local Resources
Family Retreat
Ask the Experts
Daily Living
Education
College
Medical
Seizures
Newly Diagnosed
Parents
Insurance/Finance
Sports
Botulinum Toxin
Scrapbook
About CHASA
History
Who We Serve
You Can Help
Donations

Search
Sign Guestbook
View Guestbook
Contact Us

Eleven years ago, when my daughter was just an newborn, we learned that she had a brain injury due to a stroke. We're still not sure if it was a stroke at birth or an in utero stroke. We also learned that she could have hemiplegia. When she was 4 months old, her physical therapist began to see the signs of hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

I searched for parents to talk with about infant hemiplegia and infant stroke. I couldn't imagine handling all the therapies and medical issues without the support of other parents. This was the beginning of the Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA). CHASA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is the result of the part-time volunteer work of two moms of children who have hemiplegia.

If you would like support or information, please join our online support group where you'll find other parents who understand the issues surrounding a child who has hemiplegia or childhood stroke.
Nancy Atwood, Founder of CHASA

What are some of the common treatments received by children who have hemiplegic cerebral palsy?

Treatments for hemiplegic cerebral palsy are intended to improve strength and range of motion, prevent contractures, and increase function. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, braces or orthotics, Botulinum Toxin injections, electrical stimulation, medications, and surgery are some of the treatments received by children who have hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Children may also receive speech and language therapy and special educational services to help with learning differences.

What is hemiplegia or hemiplegic cerebral palsy?

Hemiplegia, also known as hemiplegic cerebral palsy when diagnosed in children, is a condition involving paralysis or partial paralysis of one side of the body. In child or infant hemiplegic cerebral palsy, there is damage to part of the brain and this may occur in utero, at birth, or later, as a result of accident, illness or pediatric stroke. Hemiplegia is sometimes known hemiparesis, meaning a partial paralysis of one side of the body.

Signs of hemiplegia, hemiparesis, or hemiplegic cerebral palsy may include:

muscle weakness or stiffness - spasticity
paralysis on one side
lack of control on the affected side of the body
little use of one hand
limping, toe drop, gait problems
poor balance
speech or language difficulties
visual field defects
seizures (epilepsy)
perceptual or sensory issues
specific learning difficulties
behavioral issues
IQ scores for children with hemiplegia seem to follow the same range as the general population.

For infant and childhood stroke information visit the Kids Have Strokes website.

Within- and between-day stability of treadmill walking VO(2) in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy; Stability of walking VO(2) in children with CP Jan. 2005. PA

Effect of intensive neurodevelopmental treatment in gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy Nov. 2004. Greece

Retreat 2005 will be held July 10 - 13 in St. Simon's Island, Georgia. Retreat 2006 will be held in July in Estes Park, Colorado.

Families in Maryland are planning a Mid-Atlantic area Mini-Retreat in PA.

Local Resources We'll help you locate other families of children who have hemiplegia in your state or country.

The HEMI-KIDS EMAIL SUPPORT GROUP is a place where parents can talk with other parents about their questions or concerns regarding their child. Parents are discussing things like how to cope, physical therapy, speech therapy, diagnosis of stroke or hemiplegia, sibling issues, Botulinum Toxin treatment, dealing with the school system and much more. This is a place where you can ask any question and find parents who have been there and are willing to help you.

For infant and childhood stroke research news, visit the Kids Have Strokes website.

Anxiety and depression in children with epilepsy and their mothers

Influence of gait pattern on the body's centre of mass displacement in children with cerebral palsy

Comparison of percutaneous and surface functional electrical stimulation during gait in a child with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Botulinum toxin for cerebral palsy; where are we now?

Bimanual coordination during a goal-directed task in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Surgery of the Upper Extremity in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy written by Robert Bunata, M.D.