Therapy in Poland helping children with cerebral palsy

OREM — Colby Christensen can ride a tricycle now, just like most other 4-year-old girls. She's even eating grapes with "righty," her once tightly clenched right fist, thanks to a new therapy for children with cerebral palsy.

The only drawback is the treatment is in Poland. And it costs $10,000. But her mom, Tracey, said it's worth it: "Any parent would do what's best for their child."

So mom and daughter spent this past February in Mielno, a coastal city in Poland, where Colby worked six hours a day, six days a week, in a suit specially designed to help her small body learn correct posture.

But the Christensens aren't the only ones who have benefitted from the European treatment and the patented "Adeli" suit.

Two other Utah families have saved up and shipped off to undergo what many describe as the best treatment available — therapy that has changed children's lives.

Since 1994, Poland's Euromed Rehabilitation Center has been the home of the special Adeli suit and therapy programs that help children with cerebral palsy.

CP is caused by damage to the brain and affects motor skills, balance and often speech. There are varying levels of ability, with some children able to use their arms and legs, while others may be in wheelchairs or paralyzed on one side.

The Adeli suit was originally adapted from suits designed for astronauts. After months in weightless space, astronauts would lose balance and muscle strength, much like the conditions affecting a child with cerebral palsy.

The vest, shorts, knee pads and special shoes are all connected using a series of bungee cords or giant rubber bands and extra weights. The suit aligns the child's body in the anatomically correct standing position. Once in the suit, the child goes through two or three hours of suit therapy involving walking, crawling or moving while the body is properly aligned. As the child trains, his brain is learning the correct way to walk and his once-weak muscles are being exercised.

Colby Christensen

Colby Christensen was born with right-hemiplegia, or paralysis to her right side. She's been in therapy since she was 6 months old, doing things like physical, speech and even horseback therapy. But therapy is expensive, and most insurance policies pay for 12-20 visits each year, not quite enough to meet the needs of a growing child.

After hearing about Euromed from family friends, the Christensens held a fund-raiser and headed to Europe.