No Longer Just Standing Still: TMU Hospital''s Robots Help Cerebral Palsy Child Move Forward

Central News Agency (Reporter Shen Pei-hsuan, Taipei, 7th) From the frustration of ''will I be lying down my whole life?'' to seeing the dawn of ''walking on my own,'' 11-year-old cerebral palsy patient Jiayue took a small step forward with the help of Taipei Medical University Hospital''s (TMUH) rehabilitation robot charity program. She also filmed a video with singer Bii, hoping to bring hope to more children with illnesses. For many children, 10 months old is the beginning of exploring the world, but for Jiayue, a girl with cerebral palsy, it was the starting point of a 10-year ''standing still'' marathon. Born with cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation at birth, Jiayue has been trapped in a body she cannot control since childhood. Jiayue''s mother recalls her daughter''s infancy with the resilience of a strong mother. She said that Jiayue started early intervention rehabilitation at 10 months old, and this journey has lasted for more than 10 years. For parents, the most difficult part is often not physical exhaustion, but mental weariness. ''After 10 years of rehabilitation, she was still completely paralyzed. The frustration of not feeling any progress was the most tiring.'' This rehabilitation journey, which seemed to have no end, took a turn last year when they encountered the rehabilitation robot program at Taipei Medical University Hospital. With regular robot training every week, Jiayue''s mother was surprised to find that her daughter''s originally ''soft'' body gradually gained support, she stood more steadily, her upper body no longer swayed randomly, and her steps could be lifted higher and wider. A video featuring Jiayue and charity ambassador Bii premiered today at the ''Take a Step Forward'' press conference. This video was filmed pro bono by renowned director Lin Bing-cun. TMUH Superintendent Shih Chun-ming stated in his speech that the most important aspect of rehabilitation treatment is ''not to interrupt.'' He hopes that this charity video will help more people understand the children''s efforts and that every bit of social support will become the strength for them to move forward. Bii revealed that the opportunity to accept this charity invitation came at the invitation of Lin Bing-cun. After learning that this program could help children in need regain the possibility of movement through technological assistance, he readily agreed to participate in the filming, hoping to leverage his influence as a public figure to raise more support and strength for these ''slow-flying angels.'' ''For us, taking a step forward is a very simple thing, but for children, it really takes a lot of effort to move,'' Bii observed during his time with Jiayue. Although Jiayue''s physical movements are limited, her soul is full of color, and she loves to sing and draw. The most touching moment for Bii was hearing Jiayue personally express her dream of ''flying an airplane'' in the future. Bii smiled gently, admitting that he never expected such a grand ambition to soar through the sky to be hidden in such a small body. He offered his blessings: ''I sincerely hope that one day, she can realize this wish.'' Dr. Tseng Sung-hui of TMUH''s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation explained that upper limb rehabilitation robots have served 3,805 people since 2019, and lower limb robots have served 11,293 people since 2014, indicating continuous growth in clinical demand. Dr. Tseng Sung-hui stated that TMUH has established a ''Rehabilitation Robot Treatment Fund,'' which has so far subsidized 297 people and assisted 97 families. She hopes that through the injection of resources, patients can stably receive rehabilitation at critical stages, improving their functional abilities and independence. The charity video will be publicly broadcast on major video platforms and official websites, and fundraising efforts will continue, hoping for a response from all sectors to accompany more lives steadily forward. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150507 Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom. Download the Central News Agency ''First-hand News'' APP to stay updated with the latest news. The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.