My Daughter the Lab Rat

I donated my baby to science. Yeah, you read that right. She was part of a program known as SIPPC (Self-Initiated Prone Progressive Crawler), where she was hooked up to an EEG (electroencephalogram) once a week and strapped to a scooter twice a week and observed as she attempted to learn to crawl. The first time they put the EEG hat on her head, she smiled, as if she knew she was contributing to a better world.  My little girl may have just helped change the future.

It all started when a good friend of mine posted about the study on Facebook, and mentioned that she was working with the Scientist/Physical Therapist who spearheaded the project, Dr. Kolobe. They were looking for babies in my daughter's age range at the time (between 3 and 5 months) to be a part of it. We immediately jumped on the bandwagon and started traveling to OKC to strap her down and entice her with toys that she would crawl towards on the scooter. The purpose was to measure her brain waves with the EEG, because when you learn a new skill, new areas in your brain are activated. The research team wanted to compare the brain of normally developing babies to that of those with Cerebral Palsy. They have found that children with Cerebral Palsy don't have certain connections in their brain which allow for movement, and they speculate that these connections are formed as early as 3 months, when they are learning how to become mobile. The hope is that one day children with Cerebral Palsy will have their own scooters that encourage them to crawl and hopefully they can be more mobile throughout life.

Although Hannah protested at times, I think she loved being a part of the project as much as we did. At the very beginning, they did an assessment on her to test where she was developmentally. They also took pictures and video of her throughout to compile so we can see how far she has come. She went from being unable to move at the beginning of the project to crawling at the end of it. We thought that day would never come, but it did...just six days before her eight month birthday. A mere three weeks later, she was pulling up and walking along furniture.

Being a part of the study helped her. She came to recognize the wonderful physical therapist who came to our house weekly and smiled every time she saw her. She sat still when we had to establish a baseline with the EEG on her head. She loved the people and enjoyed being able to get to toys (although she did get upset when we had to move them away so she could go for them again). As time progressed, she got better and better at getting around in what we referred to as the baby Semi Truck. Eventually we struggled to keep up with her as she attempted to get the toys.

But more than that, she helped build a better future for kids everywhere. One day that scooter (without all the observation equipment) will help babies develop new neural pathways so they can be mobile. Today we went in for the final assessment, and Dr. Kolobe said, "No one has ever done this before. No one has ever measured the brain as a new skill was being learned. Because this is a skill, not a milestone. So it will be very interesting to see how the brain develops. She is helping, and we thank you for that." She was so passionate. Pure excitement rang out in her voice as she explained how the science worked. It truly is a phenomenal project.

There is a Jewish idea known as Tikkun Olam. It is the idea of acts of kindness which serve to repair our broken world. Anyone can do Tikkun Olam, even my little 3 month old (she is now 9 months). One day I will teach her about Tikkun Olam, and explain how she helped. I hope, when that day comes, that she understands the importance and worth of this valuable concept, and I pray she goes on to do great things.

"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." -John Bunyan