Celicia Hughes cannot believe after living with the paralysis for almost 20 years, new technology is helping her return to a normal life.
The life-threatening aneurysm usually only happens to adults.
"The type of aneurysm I had was probably congenital, Normally, it would happen later in life. For some reason, it happened then and there's no way to know why it happened," explains Hughes.
Whatever the reason, the aneurysm damaged the right side of her brain, which affects the left side of her body. She now has a condition known as drop foot, where she has a hard time picking up her foot.
Hughes counts on a device called Bioness L-300.
Therapists at Dynamic Orthotic & Prosthetics in Houston make sure the device is fitted just right.
"It sends a signal through the nerve to the brain and tells the brain to pick the foot up in the swing phase. Before this treatment, Hughes had a difficult time walking and would often trip and even fall down," explains certified orthotist Jeremy Bilow.
"I actually have scars all over the place. I fell in December, right before I tried the Bioness. It scraped off all the skin. There was no skin on the back of my hand. I had bruises and scars all over the place," says Hughes. She says the frustrating thing about it, instead of getting better, the older she gets, the more she trips.
"I was to the point where I had to look at the ground and measure every single step that I took," says Hughes.
That is until she started using the device with electrodes.
"It's very rewarding to fit her with this device because she benefits so much from it, and it makes her much safer in the community," says Bilow.
"I tried it on and immediately it was like, oh, this is perfect! The muscles that have been dead for 20 years because of lack of use, the electrical stimulation in the Bioness unit actually stimulates those muscles and forces them to work, when they don't know how to work," says Hughes.
Now, Hughes hopes a similar device can help stimulate her arm.
"I have good range of motion with my arm, but basically from wrist down -- nothing!," says Hughes. She hopes the device will help develop her muscles enough for her to stop wearing it someday, but if not, says she is happy to wear it for life, to be able to walk right.
Bilow tells FOX 26 News that this device is very expensive. It costs almost $6,000.
Hughes had to save up her money for it, but says it was well worth the cost for her. It helps treat similar problems for people who have had a stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.
Health insurance currently only pays for it to help people with spinal cord injuries.
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