Inthisgroundbreakingbook,Dr.KarenPapetellsthestoryofhowsomechildrenwithearlybraindamageastoundedeveryonearoundthem.Thebraininjurytheysufferedatornearbirthhadledtomotorproblemssuchastheawkwardgaitweassociatewithcerebralpalsy.Yettheywereabletorun,kickasoccerball,tapdance,andplaytennis.Thiswasnotsupposedtohappen.Itrancountertotheprevailingbeliefthatthebrainishardwiredandfixed.WhenDr.Papefirstsharedherremarkablefindings,sheranintofierceoppositionfrommainstreammedicine.Yetthiscourageousneonatologistdidn’tbackdown.Inherclinicalpractice,Papehelpedmanyyoungbrain-damagedchildrentosignificantlyimprovetheirmovement.Itledhertoaskwhysomeofthemcouldrunbutnotwalkwiththesameease.Heranswerwasastounding:Bythetimetheylearnedtorun,theirbrainshadhealed.Theawkwardwalkinggaitwasactuallyabadhabitacquiredwhilethebrainwasstilldamaged.Thisisthepowerandthebeautyofneuroplasticity,thebrain’samazingabilitytochangeandheal.Ithasrevolutionizedthetreatmentofadultswhosufferstroke.Now,forthefirsttime,thisremarkablebookshowsthatchildrenwithabraininjuryatornearbirthcangetbetter,too.Thesestoriesofchildren’srecoveryandimprovementsarearevelation--surprising,inspiring,andilluminating.Theyofferrealhopeforsomeoftheworld’smostvulnerablechildrenandabetterunderstandingofhowthebabybraingrowsandrecovers.
