Thompson finds unique reward at CP Clinic
The Daily World, Opelousas,
LA
by Jacques Billeaud, staff writer
May 30, 1994
Unlike most people, physical therapist Susan Thompson figured out what
she wanted to do for a living at an early age.
At age 14 Thompson, along with a friend who was interested in music therapy, worked at a summer camp for handicapped children, and that's when Thompson realized that physical therapy would probably be her profession.
No specific encounter or experience at the camp piqued her interest in physical therapy, Thompson said.
"It just got me interested in physical therapy with kids, nothing specific," she said.
She later volunteered in a physical therapy department at a hospital, and, after that, studied the field at LSU.
Thompson, a native of Sulphur who has lived in Basile for 10 years now, describes the rewarding moments of her job the Opelousas Area Cerebral Palsy Clinic, where she worked for roughly a year, as those when she sees a child make progress and learn a new motor skill.
According to material provided by the clinic, cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain during and shortly after pregnancy. Depending on which part of the brain has been damaged and the degree of the involvement in the central nervous system, one of more of the following effects occurs; increased or decreased muscle tone, spasms, involuntary movement; disturbance in gait mobility; seizures, abnormal sensation and perception; and impairment of sight, hearing, speech or mental impairment.
"We try to help train muscles to move normally, as well giving them independence," Thompson said. "The muscles tend to get tight if they aren't stretched."
"You need to be able to function at school, at home and in the community," she said. "It might not be a pretty walk, but at least they're walking."
An important factor in therapy is encouraging parents to work with kids, stretching their child's muscles, helping them maintaining their balance and giving encouragement, Thompson said.
For instance, if a child with the condition is getting dressed, the parents should let the child put his or her socks on, even if it takes five minutes, she said.
Before taking the position at the Opelousas clinic, Thompson said she conducted therapy on a lot of adults.
The clinic currently has 23 youths in its program, ranging in age from two month to 16 years old.
"They don't realize it as therapy like an adult would," she said, explaining the difference between working with adults and children.
Before accepting the position as the therapist for the Opelousas clinic, Thompson worked - and still performs some work - for a rehabilitation service in Eunice.
"When this position opened" in Opelousas, Thompson said, "I jumped at the chance at working with children. It seems like more fun."
"The children respond to her beautifully, " said Patty Richard, the clinic's director. "I begged her to stay."
A lot of children with the condition couldn't get therapy because it's expensive - many parents cannot afford the deductible or aren't eligible for Medicaid - but the clinic enables children to receive it free of charge, Richard said.
The 35-year-old clinic is funded by the United Way of St. Landry and donations.
The 4th Tribute to Lois Boagni, which will benefit the clinic, will be held from 8 pm till 1 am June 11 at Little Teche Farms in Port Barre.