By ERIC FREEMAN

Columbus Telegram

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) -- Cutting-edge technology and hard work have begun to make a significant impact on the life of 5-year-old Schuyler girl, Galilea De la Cruz.

Known as Gali, the daughter of Jose Louis De la Cruz and Rita De la Cruz of Schuyler, suffers from hypotonia. It makes it impossible for her to coordinate the integrated system of muscles that enable speech.

The technology opening the doorway to communication for Gali is the electronic DynaVox Eyemax system. The system makes it possible for the user to communicate using just their eyes to focus on photos or icons on the screen.

Once Gali successfully focuses on the desired image, the equipment, which tracks her eye movement, communicates to her parents by lighting the image and speaking the word assigned to the photo.

Gali's ability to use the technology was evaluated during an extensive, six-month trial period last fall by Delanie Hudnall, a speech and language pathologist at Wiggles and Giggles Therapy for Kids.

Wiggles and Giggles is an outpatient clinic from Columbus Community Hospital that provides speech, occupational and physical therapy for children.

Although still serious, Gali's situation has improved significantly since her birth.

Her parents said that until she was a year old and involved in therapy, she was unable to raise her head or sit up at all.

As a result of physical and occupational therapy, she now can sit, hold her head up and focus on objects in her field of vision with the assistance of a soft body brace.

"Before she was 1 year old, it was very difficult for us," said Gali's father, Jose, through the services of Jose Velasco, a Columbus Community Hospital interpreter. "We could not communicate with her, and before she went into therapy she didn't cry or smile, and she was always lying down.

"During that first year she was sad and sleeping much of the time. The therapy really helped Gali to get to where she is today."

Hudnall said hypotonia is a condition characterized by decreased muscle tone, which, in Gali's case, leads to severe weakness of muscles throughout her body and specifically those used for speech.

The EyeMax system used by Gali is programmed to function in Spanish or English.

"This equipment is designed to fit Gali's needs now and in the future as she gains skill in its use and as she grows and develops her own language skills in school," Hudnall said.

The equipment is fully portable and will be available for Gali's use at all times when initial training is completed with her family.

Gali's mother, Rita, and her older sister are both learning to use the equipment. Once trained they will train other family members and friends in its use.

Funding for the device has been made possible through Medicaid and the help the family has received through many therapists and social workers in Columbus and Norfolk.

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