New International Study Seeks to Determine Most Effective Treatments for Severe Pediatric TBIs

Surprisingly, while severe traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of childhood death and injury in the U.S., there is no agreed upon, standard treatment in the medical community.  To change this, the National Institutes of Heath recently commissioned a $16.5 million study to investigate the various treatments for severe TBI and follow their outcomes. Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, the grant recipients, will lead teams in the US, UK, France, Spain, and elsewhere in comparing their treatments and results of 1,000 pediatric participants who sustained severe TBIs.

This study aims to discover which treatments are best not only during the immediate aftermath of the injury, but also in the months ahead. According to Dr. Michael J. Bell, one of the lead researchers, “Rehabilitation for walking, cognitive problems, behavior problems – there are a number of disorders that TBI causes, our hope is to find which strategies minimize these outcomes.”

We look forward to the completion of this 5-year study and the reports of its findings. 

Click below to read more on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Michael A. Fuoco: “Pitt, UPMC to lead study of severe brain injuries in youth.”

The United Spinal Association: A Great Resource for those Living with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders

Here at MFM we recently heard about the impressive work being done by the United Spinal Association. According to their mission statement, the United Spinal Association’s goal “…is to improve the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).” Primarily through “active-lifestyle information, peer support, and advocacy,” this amazing non-profit “empowers people with SCI/D to achieve their highest potential in all facets of life.”

Check out the below links to learn more…

United Spinal Association's Website: http://www.unitedspinal.org/

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New Tech Helps Determine Concussion Severity

The Electrode Mesh Cap in action (Photo Credit: Medical News Today)Concussions related to playing football have recently drawn great attention from the public. Recently, the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior (CB3) of University of Nebraska has developed a new device called the electrode mesh cap. The leading researcher, Dennis Molfese, remarks that, “Our goal is to do nothing less than to make this a cutting-edge, world-renowned, world-unique brain-imaging center that eventually will become a model for brain-imaging centers around the world.” The electrode mesh cap is a type of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine that follows a brain’s blood flow. When a player is injured, he will put on the electrode mesh cap enabling medical staff to evaluate his brain waves and determine whether he can continue playing on the field. According to Molfese, the device could be ready to use in hospitals in 1 to 2 years that will help to screen patients of potential brain injuries. 

To learn more, check out Mary Ellis's article here on Medical News Today 

The most inspiring art you'll see all day, from the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association

Whether or not you have an eye for art, it’s hard not to be impressed with the below pieces by members of The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association. The MFPA is an international organization that aims to unite disabled artists, now painting with the mouths or feet, and to encourage others to learn how to paint.  By helping the artists sell reprints of their work, on greeting cards and calendars for example, the MFPA helps it’s members support themselves financially while attaining “self-respect and creative fulfillment.”

Click here to visit the MFPA’s website to learn more

Painting by Ruben Rios, American member of the MFPA (Photo courtesy of the MFPA website)A painting of an American Harbor by Brom Wikstrom (Photo courtesy of the MFPA website)Mouth painter Ivar Benavides hard at work (Photo courtesy of the MFPA website)

Introducing the Winners of the Reeve Foundation's 2013 "Best Mom and Dad on Wheels" Contest

Nora with her husband Jesse and children Debi and Owen (Photo Credit: The Reeve Founation)

Nora Boyle, after being secretly nominated by her mother, has been dubbed  by the Reeve Foundation as the 2013 Best Mom on Wheels. When Nora was 16, a car accident paralyzed her from the waist down. Since then, however, she has continued to live an incredibly active life. On top of working as a school Special Education Paraprofessional and raising her two children, ages 10 and 12, she still finds the time to help out with community sales, scouts, and scrapbooking weekends. Seemingly fearless, she’s even been bungee jumping and skydiving! After recognizing Nora, one second grader even exclaimed “You’re not just the Best Mom on Wheels, you’re the best person on wheels!” 

Click here to read more about Nora and her family on the Reeve Foundation's Website... 

Garrett with his wife Robin, and kids Eden, Olivia, and Grayson (Photo Credit: The Reeve Foundation)Much like Nora, the 2013 Best Dad on Wheels, Garrett Laubscher, doesn’t skip a beat. He is the father of three children, ages 7, 9, and 11, and also serves as a youth minister at his local church. After Garrett’s motor vehicle accident that left him paralyzed in 2011, the members of his church rallied to support him just as he had always helped support them over the years. As Garrett describes, “For most of my life I’ve been a pastor and helped people through hard times. This is a time where I had to receive. I can use my story to let people know that it’s okay to invite others in to help them in their life, to walk with them, and carry some of that burden. ”

Click here to read more about Garrett and his family...