A special vest might help 2-year-old who was born with cerebral palsy learn to breathe better

Dylan Cain giggles a lot and he smiles even more.

The 21/2-year-old Corvallis boy rarely has a bad moment. And his parents Jinger and Mark Cain want to keep it that way.

When Dylan was born, he came out blue because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, cutting off oxygen. The results of this didn't appear until he was three months old, when his parents noticed Dylan's eyesight seemed off. They took him to Oregon Health & Science University, where they learned he was legally blind, and had a variety of other physical issues related to brain injury.

A year later, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects muscle coordination and body movement. The Cains were told that Dylan might not walk, and that his physical abilities would be severely limited.

They didn't take the diagnosis at face value. Instead, they did their research, and found themselves in Philadelphia, at the Institute for Achievement of Human Potential, a nonprofit education center that deals solely with brain-injured children.

There, they learned techniques that are supposed to help Dylan re-map his brain so that he will see, move and communicate better.

The results have been astonishing, according to the Cains. Within two weeks of intensive physical work called patterning - which helps Dylan move his arms, legs and head - he began crawling, whereas before, he could barely roll around on the floor.

"He now crawls 600 to 700 feet a day," Jinger said, "and he will now get up on his hands and knees. I think he's close to creeping."

Dylan doesn't take in as much oxygen as he should, so he uses an oxygen mask several times a day as part of his therapy. If he had more regular breathing patterns, Jinger and Mark believe, he might be able to talk.

The family is hoping to raise money to buy a $4,000 respiratory vest that Dylan would wear at night that would essentially teach his body how to breathe more deeply. Like the other patterning that Dylan does, Jinger said, this would train his muscles to work correctly, and eventually he'd be able to breathe more regularly on his own.

Cognitively, Dylan is doing well, and his parents are already teaching him reading and math skills.

"As you go through life, society is not very nice to you," she said of people with cerebral palsy. "The one thing we can give him is intelligence."

Jinger stays at home full time to work with Dylan, who needs six to nine hours of therapy a day, including his special nutrition program, which helps keep him healthy despite his compromised immune system. Mark is a full-time student in the College of Business at Oregon State University, a schedule that allows him to help out with Dylan as well.

Love Inc. also provides volunteers to help with Dylan's treatments, which are physical enough that they sometimes require the help of three adults. The Cains believe that Dylan can go on to live a healthy, active life if they keep up his treatments.

This belief was boosted when they met a young man with cerebral palsy who had been attending the institute since childhood, and was now completing his second master's degree.

Family friend Whitney Mintken, 19, has taken Dylan's cause as her own, and has organized a fund-raiser with local dentist Dr. Len Gerken to help raise money for Dylan's respiratory vest.

The Cains view Dylan as the greatest gift of their lives, and are determined to do everything they can for him.

"God gave him a purpose," Jinger said, "and our goal is to go about helping him with his purpose."

Theresa Hogue can be contacted at theresa.hogue@lee.net.

HOW TO HELP

* A garage sale is taking place Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 1831 N.W. Tyler Ave. All proceeds benefit Dylan Cain.

* Dr. Len Gerken is offering professional tooth whitening services at a greatly discounted price on Sept. 15, with all proceeds going toward the purchase of Dylan's respiratory vest. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sept. 15, Gerken will be taking tooth impressions and creating custom bleaching trays for clients, at a cost of $150. The procedure normally costs $400. Call Gerken's office at 757-7708 to make an appointment for that day, and specify it is for the Dylan Cain fund-raiser.

* There is also an account set up at US Bank. Donations can be dropped off there for the Dylan Cain Donation Account.