The Mexican María Nicole Loyo Sanders was only six months old when she was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that causes increased muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and difficulty with movement. It can affect a single part of the body or all limbs, the trunk, and the face. Although she received therapy with rehabilitation specialists from the moment the condition was detected, her progress was slow and not very favorable.

After four years of daily attendance at health services and only slight improvements in her recovery, her parents continued searching for new treatment and therapy options so that their daughter could progress more quickly. Recommended by another Mexican mother whose son had the same condition, they arrived at the International Center for Neurological Restoration (CIREN) in Cuba. From that moment on, this family’s life changed.

Graciela Sanders, Nicole’s mother, did not hesitate to follow the instructions to determine, once her daughter’s clinical history was evaluated by Cuban specialists based in Mexico, whether she was a candidate to receive medical care on the Island. Fortunately, after a detailed review of the MRI and other tests, they confirmed the opportunity to travel to the archipelago.

The CIREN: the new hope for the Loyo Sanders family.

Many people came together to help finance the trip and stay in Cuba: restoring Nicole’s quality of life became a priority. According to Graciela, they arrived with very high expectations, especially that she would be able to walk. The CIREN professionals assured them that this would happen, but first it was necessary to work intensively and consistently to straighten and strengthen the child’s trunk, achieve head control, and get her to sit independently, all through physical therapy.

For the family and close ones, the girl’s improvement within a few months “was impressive,” starting from an initial stage of therapy that lasted between six and seven hours a day. More confident due to the evident and positive results, and thanks to the expertise and dedicated work of the doctors and rehabilitation specialists at the Center, the patient remained in the country until completing three cycles, consolidating her recovery and confirming they had made the best decision: rehabilitating Nicole in Cuba!

“A safe environment for performing exercises, with dynamics and a comprehensive approach that promote enjoyment and engagement in therapy, along with the creation of physical conditions to prevent emotional exhaustion in children, as well as the special emotional bond established between therapist and patient, are among the distinctive features of this healthcare service that has greatly benefited my Nicole,” Sanders highlighted.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from returning to the largest of the Antilles at the planned time. When they returned to their country for the first time, they tried other available options, including minimally invasive surgery to reduce muscle spasticity—one of the recommended treatments for the condition. However, the lack of proper rehabilitation ultimately weakened her legs and made it impossible for her to stand and walk.

Faced with this situation and in search of comprehensive, personalized, and intensive care for their daughter, Nicole’s parents decided to return to CIREN, a specialized institution in the rehabilitation and restoration of neurological disorders, where high international quality standards are combined with consistency, dedication, and affection—key elements that today allow the 11-year-old girl to show a positively different health condition.

By: Beatriz Vaillant Rodríguez
Photos: Courtesy of the family