California center works with children with CP, traumatic brain injury

From KTLA-TV:

LOS ANGELES -- When two and a half year old Marlow Rowan was diagnosed with cerebral, his mother Shannon knew time was crucial Get him the best neurological and physical therapies immediately in order for him to get the best quality of life.

That's why she came to NAPA, the Neurological and Physical Abilitation Center. Shannon says he's getting stronger everyday at NAPA, he's learning new skills, gaining confidence in his abilities and himself, and he's becoming more independent. She says what more could a parent as for.

NAPA Center not only helps kids with cerebral palsy, it also works with children who have suffered traumatic brain injury. And therapists work with adults in the afternoons. Director Lynette LaScala's son Cody almost drowned when he was younger.

LaScala travelled all around the world to find the best therapies for him. She learned intensive therapy is crucial, yet most centers in the U.. only offer a couple of hours of therapy a week. So she opened NAPA center to help other kids like Cody and give parents like her the answers and assistance they need. She says most centers only offer children two hours of therapy per week.

But at NAPA, a three week session offers therapy 4 hours a day. That means kids often see a whole year's progress in just one 3 week session. It costs $5000 but LaScala will work with families that can't afford it and she says some insurance companies will cover the costs. LaScala works hard to get grant money to help cover costs for her non-profit organization. She says she doesn't care about making money, only in making a difference in people's lives. And she is.

Mary Bucci says LaScala and the highly trained therapists here are a godsend. Her son Christian used to be a happy, rambunctious two year old until a near drowning accident a few months ago. Now Mary doesn't know if he knows she is in the room or if he knows where he is. She says most doctors tell her there's nothing they can do for Christian. But she says at NAPA, not only do they give her son attention and aggressive therapy, they give her hope.

Families from Japan, Singapore, Kuwait, and beyond are moving to Los Angeles to get their kids into NAPA.