Preparing for your baby’s arrival is an exciting experience. Finding out that your baby may be born with a disorder and has a low chance of surviving is not what any parent wants to hear. Lorie Hjelmstad’s doctors told her that the ultrasounds detected fluid on her baby’s heart and cysts about the size of a grape on the frontal lobe of her brain. “Doctors said it would be a miracle if these cysts on the brain ever went away,” said Lorie.
Born at just four pounds and eleven ounces, Bricanna came into this world on September 10, 2013. Bricanna’s first MRI showed no signs of the cysts on her brain. “It was a miracle!” said Lorie. Bricanna had not grown much since birth and was eventually referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The genetic testing and chromosome analysis done at Mayo Clinic showed that Bricanna has a rare triplication of part of the eighth chromosome, which has severely stunted her growth. She is the only known case in the United States and is only one of two cases in the world. She was also diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism, which means she has no growth hormones. “We decided to move to Bismarck in July 2014 because we wanted better doctors and therapists,” said Lorie.
Bricanna turns two in September and weighs about nine and a half pounds and is 24 inches long. Her physical therapist at CHI St. Alexius Health, Cara Mitzel, identified a need and set mobility goals so Bricanna could take her first steps on her own. Cara worked with Kurt Schmidt from CHI St. Alexius Health Great Plains Rehabilitation Services by providing necessary information for her mobility needs. “I really wasn’t sure what equipment was available to meet those needs, until doing more research. I looked to the manufacturers that I normally use for gait trainers and similar equipment with no luck,” stated Kurt. He then explored Mulholland Positioning Systems and contacted the owner to explain Bricanna’s situation. Kurt said, “He sent me information on the Baby-Walk gait trainer. This gait trainer could actually be adjusted to meet her specific height and weight and move her toward taking independent steps.”
With the proper supports in place, pelvic belt, chest strap and dynamic padded sit bar, Bricanna was ready. On February 13 during her therapy session, Bricanna took her first steps all on her own using her new pink and camouflage Baby-Walk gait trainer. Kurt stated, “This was a bittersweet moment as she really didn’t enjoy being strapped into something that was so unfamiliar to her. I’m sure it was a scary moment and she didn’t hold back letting you know about it. It was a great feeling seeing her take some steps for the first time independently. With continued use during therapy times it would prove to be successful in meeting her mobility needs.”
The dynamic sit bar is the key to making this work as it moves throughout her gait pattern to obtain proper “heel strike” and “toe off” and then assists with elevation to allow for proper “swing through” of her legs. The gait trainer was used at her physical therapy appointments for a few weeks before being able to transfer it home.
Bricanna has weekly appointments with her physical, occupational and speech therapists at CHI St. Alexius Health. The therapists work as a team and see improvements each week. She is much more independent now that she can take steps on her own. “Bricanna and her mother routinely stop at Great Plains Rehabilitation Services to visit and share videos of her using her gait trainer. I’m so glad that it’s made such a positive impact on her life and will also aid in her social and cognitive development,” stated Kurt.