Shriners Children’s Hospital Helps Cerebral Palsy Patients With Unique Technology Systems

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Bahakel Entertainment’s Anna Kooiman talks to Angella, a young patient at the Shriners Children’s Hospital who is living with cerebral palsy, and her mother, Loshana, about how the Shriners have helped Angella by using their unique technology systems.

Angella is getting pediatric specialty care for cerebral palsy from Shriners Children’s Hospital in Greenville.

“I can just go home knowing that. I have some great doctors and in good hands.” says Angella.

Angella is a twin. The girls were born to a military family in Hawaii at just 28 weeks. Her parents knew they needed the best treatment possible.

“So, you literally packed up your life after you both retired from the military and said, “Where’s the Shriners?” That’s where we’re headed. Amazing. And has it been a good decision for you? ” asks Kooiman.

“It has. Honestly, it has. I mean, when kids are small, it’s challenging, you know, taking them to the hospital. And as many things that she has gone through, her spirits have always been high. In the beginning, like you say, as a parent, you’re thinking, oh, life’s going to be hard. You know, this is new. Why me? You have all of the questions, but then your daughter starts to talk when they say she’s never going to talk, and then she starts to walk. When they say she’s never going to walk. So, you’re like, there’s nothing that she cannot do. This is just a title. You know, It really does not define who she is as a person.” replies Loshana.

The Shriners’ motion analysis center is helping Angella learn to walk better.

The new technology is mind blowing, according to Dr. Jake Copeland.

“It is a new way to analyze how a child with cerebral palsy or with AMC Arthrogryposis or any number of issues might have different ways of walking compared to you or I”, says Dr. Copeland.

He continues by saying, “you know, it used to be that you would just go to your orthopedic surgeon’s office, and they would watch you walk down a hallway, down and back. And that’s how they would make their decisions on what to operate on. And now we have objective data and we can actually see in the data what needs to be what needs to be operated on, where an intervention needs to take place to make meaningful changes,” says Dr. Copeland.

Many families make the decision to move to the area due to the cutting edge technology that the Shiners Children’s Hospital offers.

“It’s pretty amazing. We use the same exact motion capture technology that’s used in Hollywood, that’s used in the video game industry. It really does help with the buy in from the kids to spend 2 or 3 hours with us because they get to see ultimately the stick figure that we make of them that shows them walking on the screen when they’re done. So, they feel like they’ve made a video game character,” replies Dr. Copeland.

Patients like Angella can see their entire team of doctors, get physical therapy, and even community care… all under one roof. It takes away a lot of logistical headaches associated with complex medical conditions.

“I’ve always thought that Shriners was great. We’ve been here for a few years, and we’ve transferred here to this Shriners from a different Shriners in Hawaii. The people here are great. It feels more like a family. You don’t really feel like you’re in a hospital, you know? So, the environment is great. And being able to bring your siblings and your family here to support her during therapy. Yeah, that’s all great,” replies Loshana.

Shriners Greenville has seven orthopedic surgeons, all with their own specialty. The hospital publishes their research to help kids across the globe benefit from what’s happening here in South Carolina.

“Loshana, As parents, we think we’re always teaching our kids things. That’s our job. But has Angella taught you anything? What have you learned from her?” asks Kooiman.

“From her, I learned that anything is possible. You know, sometimes you receive a diagnosis, and they tell you, you know, case study says she won’t be able to do this, that or the other. And she has overcome everything that they have predicted,” says Loshana.

So to these kids… Shriners medical experts are angels on Earth.