As Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s son Zain, who was born with Cerebral Palsy (CP), died on Tuesday at the age of 26, this rare congenital disorder from which he suffered has been making headlines today. While Cerebral refers to brain-related conditions, Palsy refers to muscle weakness or problems. As a result, Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. In a blog post titled ‘The Moment That Forever Changed Our Lives,’ Nadella shared one of his experiences while his wife was pregnant with Zain in October 2017. He stated that his son was born at 11:29 p.m. on August 13, 1996, weighing three pounds and that he did not cry.
“Zain was transported across Lake Washington from Bellevue Hospital to Seattle Children’s Hospital, which has a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.” Anu’s recovery from the difficult birth began. I stayed with her in the hospital that night and went to see Zain the next morning. “I had no idea how drastically our lives would change,” Nadella added. “Over the next couple of years, we learned more about the damage caused by in utero asphyxiation, and how Zain would require a wheelchair and be reliant on us due to severe cerebral palsy,” he continued. I was heartbroken. But mostly, I was disappointed with how things turned out for Anu and me.”
CP is caused by brain damage, which results in abnormal development due to a lack of oxygen in the brain at birth. It impairs a person’s ability to control their muscles. Other factors that can cause brain development problems to include maternal infections, traumatic head injury, genetic mutations, bleeding into the brain, infant infections, and fatal stroke.CP can affect the entire body or just one or two limbs or one side of the body. Typical signs and symptoms include difficulties with movement and coordination, speech and eating, and development, among other things.
Cerebral palsy is frequently associated with other conditions in children. These are conditions that, in addition to CP, can have an impact on a child’s quality of life. Children and adults suffering from the disease may experience respiratory problems, speech impairment, oral motor impairment, digestive problems, vision impairment, hearing impairment, and epilepsy (seizures). He suggested that regular doctor visits are essential in order to detect any potential complications that could affect a child’s development in the womb. Certain problems, such as incompatible blood types, can be treated to lower the risk of CP. Getting properly vaccinated, controlling underlying health conditions, avoiding exposure to infections or viruses known to impact fetal health, and not drinking or smoking are some other ways to help prevent the condition.
Dr. Mannan went on to explain that there are different types of CP that affect different parts of the brain and cause different movement disorders.” The different types of cerebral palsy are Spastic cerebral palsy, Dyskinetic cerebral palsy, Hypotonic cerebral palsy, Ataxic cerebral palsy, and mixed cerebral palsy,” he explained. We can categorize them as mild, moderate, or severe. Spastic CP is the most common type of CP, affecting roughly 80% of those who have it. It causes muscle stiffness and exaggerated reflexes, making walking difficult. Dyskinetic CP patients have difficulty controlling their body movements. Involuntary, abnormal movements of the arms, legs, and hands are caused by the disorder.”Hypotonic CP is characterized by low muscle tone and overly relaxed muscles.” The least common type of CP is ataxic CP.
It is distinguished by voluntary muscle movements that are often disorganized, clumsy, or jerky. Some people suffer from a combination of symptoms caused by the various types of CP. “This is known as mixed CP,” the doctor explained. Because there is no cure for CP, only treatment can improve the lives of those who suffer from it. Medication, therapies, surgical procedures, and other treatments may be used as needed.” Medications that can reduce muscle tightness may be used to improve functional abilities, treat pain, and manage complications related to spasticity or other cerebral palsy symptoms,” says Dr. Mannan. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and recreational therapy are examples of therapies. Orthopedic surgery and nerve fiber cutting are examples of surgical procedures.”Children and adults with cerebral palsy may require medical care for the rest of their lives. The type of care he or she receives will be determined by his or her specific symptoms and needs, which may change over time. Early intervention has been shown to improve outcomes. Microsoft shared the tragic news of Zain’s death in an email on Tuesday, asking executives to keep the grieving family in their thoughts and prayers.
