Successful rehabilitation course for one-year-old Misha with cerebral palsy

In November 2015, METACO Charity Fund sponsored a rehabilitation course for one-year-old Mikhail (Misha) Galkin at “Galileo-Med” Medical Centre, Moscow.
Misha, who turned 1-year-old on the 28th November, is a cheerful little boy and always wears a smile on his face, yet his entire life has been spent contending with the consequences of serious illnesses. When he was born, before being discharged from the hospital, he suffered from purulent meningitis and a brain haemorrhage, which forced him to spend the first month of his life in the intensive care unit on assisted ventilation. A number of further diagnoses followed – hydrocephalus, spastic tetraparesis (cerebral palsy) and partial atrophy of the optic nerve, which led to an endless series of hospitalisations.
By the time he was 10-months-old, Misha could not sit, crawl or turn himself over. However, according to doctors, there were very positive prospects for improvement as Misha could already manipulate toys from one hand to the other, and was clearly reacting to sounds and even smiling. Crucially, Misha should constantly undergo various tailored courses of rehabilitation and practice daily at home with his mother, as, the earlier the effects of cerebral palsy are addressed, the better the potential and scope for recovery can be.
At the request of the child’s mother, Ina, the Fund supplied financial assistance via signed contract to pay for a rehabilitation course at Galileo-Med Centre, Moscow. The course was tailored to Misha’s needs and included sessions using a specially developed vibration platform, “Galileo”, as well as a course with a speech therapist and defectologist, which included special logopedic massage. As an integral part of this course, Misha’s mum was also trained and advised on particular exercises that should be performed at home.
We were very happy with the results. The rehabilitation course has paid off: Misha became active and mobile; his muscles became stronger; he began to roll safely to his stomach; he started supporting his body weight with his arms, and can now pull himself towards the table whilst sitting in his chair. Additionally, he also became far more sociable and shows a lot of interest to the world around him. We wish him well!

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