This week was a short, yet eventful at my internship: we only worked Monday through Wednesday because of the 4thof July. I was able to watch another SATco (Standardized assessment of trunk control) take place on a child with cerebral palsy, which involved them perform a set of tests that would determine how much trunk control the child possessed. During this time, I was able to watch what the data analysis team does in order to obtain the correct data.
The Discovery Cove with a fellow intern and data analyzer
Later in the week, I was allowed to go to the Discovery Cove (where we do all of our experiments) in order to help one of the Post docs run a test on a machine. To do this, she decided to use me and give me transcutaneous spinal stimulation. A bunch of stickers were attached directly on my spinal cord and on my hips, and then the stimulation was turned on and slowly raised to the persons motor threshold. It was an extremely interesting feeling, and although I was still able to control my spine, I felt the urge to sit up straight. Whenever she turned on the stimulation, my spine would automatically straighten. I am extremely grateful to have been shown what this feels like and have the entire process explained to me.
Throughout the week I also continued to read certain papers and gain knowledge about past experiments and present these to my mentor. On Monday, me fellow interns and I gave a presentation on different experiments done in the past, where I looked at transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation for stepping and standing. Dr. Behrman was amazing and explained the importance of this information to me as well as giving me further steps to complete.
On the days when I wasn’t at my internship, I went out for walks and hung out with my roomie, Anza. We also went to a local ice cream shop called “The comfy cow” with the host family and Anza, which had amazing cookie dough ice cream… It is crazy to think that I only have two weeks left!
the different ways of pronouncing Louisville
The host family and us interns at the comfy cow
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