Cerebral palsy and Ann Miller: Difference between pages

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'''Ann Miller''' was born on [[April 12]], [[1923]] (some sources still indicate [[1919]]) and died on [[January 22]], [[2004]]. She was an American dancer, singer and actress, who was christened '''Johnnie Lucille Collier''' in [[Chireno, Texas]] (some sources cite [[Houston, Texas]]).

'''Cerebral palsy''' or '''CP''' is a group of disorders that are associated with developmental [[brain injury|brain injuries]] that occur during [[fetus|fetal]] development, birth, or shortly after birth. It is also known as static [[encephalopathy]] and Little's disease after its discoverer. Cerebral palsy is no longer considered a disease, but rather it is a chronic nonprogressive nuerological disorder. The incidence is about 1.5 to 4 per 1000 births. There is no cure, but therapy may be helpful.

She was considered a child dance prodigy. She was given a contract with [[RKO]] allegedly at the tender age of thirteen (she had told them she was eighteen). She became famous for her roles in films such as [[Kiss Me, Kate]], [[Easter Parade]] and [[On the Town]]. Miller was famed for her speed in [[tap dancing]]; she claimed to be able to tap 500 times per minute.

Cerebral palsy, then known as "Cerebral Paralysis", was first identified by a [[Britian|British]] surgeon named [[William Little]] in [[1860]]. Little raised the possibility of [[asphyxia]] during birth as a chief cause of the disorder. It was not until [[1897]] when [[Sigmund Freud]] suggested that the problems with birth were not the cause but rather only a symptom of other effects on fetal development. Modern research has proved that Freud was correct, however, Little's view became the traditional explanation.

Her father (from whom she would become estranged due to his infidelities to her mother) insisted on the name Johnnie because he had wanted a boy, but she was often called Annie. She took up dancing to help exercise her legs to help her [[rickets]]. Her film career effectively ended in [[1956]], but she remained active in the theatre. In [[1979]] she astounded audiences in the [[Broadway]] show [[Sugar Babies]]. In 1983 she won the [[Sarah Siddons Award]] for her work in [[Chicago]] theatre. In 2001 she took her last role as "Coco" in auteur director [[David Lynch]]'s movie [[Mulholland Drive (film)]].

The disorder is marked by several important signs. All persons with cerebral palsy developed it while the brain was under development. This limits the age at which the disorder can develop to at most 5 years old. Secondly, it is a nonprogressive disorder, that is, once the damage to the brain is done no additional damage occurs. Cerebral palsy never worsens, though its symptoms may change with time. The disorder also never improves. It is a permanent disability which stays with a person their entire life. Any temporary problems would suggest a disorder other than cerebral palsy. Additionally, the disorder is characterized by disruption of the motor skills of the person. There is a wide range of severity in the loss of motor skills from normal. Lastly, even though there is a loss of motor skils, the muscles themselves are not defective. The problem lies solely in the brain's ability to control those otherwise healthy muscles.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Ann Miller has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6914 Hollywood Blvd.

== [[Etiology]] ==

Since cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders, there is no exact known cause. Some major causes are [[asphyxia]] or [[hypoxia]] of brain, birth trauma or premature birth, genetic susceptibility, certain drugs or infections in the mother which reach the fetus during pregnancy, central nervous system infections trauma, consecutive hematoma. After birth, the condition may be caused by toxins, physical brain injury, and meningitis.

She died at the age of 80 (or 84) from cancer that had spread to her lungs and was interred in the [[Holy Cross Cemetery]] in [[Culver City, California]].

Recent research has demonstrated that asphyxia is not the most important cause as it was once considered to be, though it still plays a role. The research has shown that infections in the mother, even infections that are not easily detected, drastically increase the risk of the unborn child developing the disorder.

The classical symptoms are [[spasticity]], paralysis, seizures, unsteady gait, and dysarthria. While [[mental retardation]] and cerebral palsy do not cause each other, the two disorders are found together in approximately 40%-70% of all persons with cerebral palsy.

== TreatmentFilmography ==

* ''[[Anne of Green Gables]]'' (1934)

The treatment is usually symptomatic and the development of intensive care units for newborns has not resulted in a dramatic decrease in the incidence. This is suggestive of the fact that the people suffering from this disease are genetically susceptible and can only have some benefit from a life-long care. The expected length of life does not seem to be affected.

* ''[[The Good Fairy]]'' (1935)

* ''[[The Devil on Horseback]]'' (1936)

* ''[[New Faces of 1937]]'' (1937)

* ''[[The Life of the Party]]'' (1937)

* ''[[Stage Door]]'' (1937)

* ''[[Radio City Revels]]'' (1938)

* ''[[Having Wonderful Time]]'' (1938)

* ''[[You Can't Take It with You]]'' (1938)

* ''[[Room Service]]'' (1938)

* ''[[Tarnished Angel]]'' (1938)

* ''[[Too Many Girls]]'' (1940)

* ''[[Hit Parade of 1941]]'' (1940)

* ''[[Melody Ranch]]'' (1940)

* ''[[Time Out for Rhythm]]'' (1941)

* ''[[Meet the Stars: Stars Past and Present]]'' (1941) (short subject)

* ''[[Screen Snapshots: Series 21, No. 1]]'' (1941) (short subject)

* ''[[Go West, Young Lady]]'' (1941)

* ''[[True to the Army]]'' (1942)

* ''[[Priorities on Parade]]'' (1942)

* ''[[Reveille with Beverly]]'' (1943)

* ''[[What's Buzzin', Cousin?]]'' (1943)

* ''[[Hey, Rookie]]'' (1944)

* ''[[Jam Session]]'' (1944)

* ''[[Carolina Blues]]'' (1944)

* ''[[Eadie Was a Lady]]'' (1945)

* ''[[Eve Knew Her Apples]]'' (1945)

* ''[[The Thrill of Brazil]]'' (1946)

* ''[[Easter Parade]]'' (1948)

* ''[[The Kissing Bandit]]'' (1948)

* ''[[Mighty Manhattan, New York's Wonder City]]'' (1949) (short subject)

* ''[[On the Town]]'' (1949)

* ''[[Watch the Birdie]]'' (1950)

* ''[[Texas Carnival]]'' (1951)

* ''[[Two Tickets to Broadway]]'' (1951)

* ''[[Lovely to Look At]]'' (1952)

* ''[[Small Town Girl]]'' (1953)

* ''[[Calamity Jane]]'' (1953) (bit part)

* ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'' (1953)

* ''[[Deep in My Heart]]'' (1954)

* ''[[Hit the Deck]]'' (1955)

* ''[[The Opposite Sex]]'' (1956)

* ''[[The Great American Pastime]]'' (1956)

* ''[[Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]'' (1976)

* ''[[A Century of Cinema]]'' (1994) (documentary)

* ''[[That's Entertainment! III]]'' (1994)

* ''[[Mulholland Dr.]]'' (2001)

=== ReferencesExternal links ===

* {{imdb name|id=0587900|name=Ann Miller}}

*"''Conditions in Occupational Therapy: effect on occupational performance.''" ed. Ruth A. Hansen and Ben Atchison (Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Williams, 2000), 8-21. ISBN 0-683-30417-8

* [http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3422589.stm BBC obituary]

*"''Cerebral Palsy Explained.''" October 3, 2002, http://www.cerebralpalsy.cc/cerebral_palsy_explained.html

*"''William and Spackman's Occupational Therapy 9th Edition.''" ed. Maureen E. Neistadt and Elizabeth Blesedell Crepeau (Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 1998), 233, 589-598. ISBN 0-397-55192-4

[[Category:1923 births|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:2004 deaths|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:American actors|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:U.S. stage actors|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:American film actors|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:Female singers|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:Tap dancers|Miller, Ann]]

[[Category:People from Texas|Miller, Ann]]

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