Thanks to the generosity of friends and colleagues, an Oakland County couple was able to raise the money to send their 9-year-old daughter to Poland for experimental treatment for her cerebral palsy.

When Tony Randolph walked into restaurants, hospitals or his job at the Auburn Hills Fire Department during the last several months, people handed him checks or cash. Some of the day-care business clients of his wife, Lori Randolph, also donated their Christmas bonuses so the Randolphs could embark on their journey.

On Friday, Tony and daughter Veronica left for Mielno, Poland along with 11 other parents and their 11 children, The Oakland Press of Pontiac reported Saturday. The kids have cerebral palsy, and the families are hoping a month- long series of breakthrough treatments at a clinic there will help them lead a more normal life.

"The main goal is to get these kids walking. And the kids who don't talk, to get them to start talking," Lori Randolph said "With this treatment, the brain is getting so much input, it's like jump-starting the brain."

Cerebral palsy is an injury at birth or shortly thereafter often caused by a lack of oxygen that damages the central nervous system. Many people who have cerebral palsy, including Veronica, can't walk or talk. "She wants to communicate. She knows what she wants to say; she just can't talk," Lori Randolph said. The treatment in Poland involves encasing the child in a suit, called the Adeli suit, made of elastic bands. By adjusting the tension in the bands, the patient's muscles send signals to the brain, which are then recorded in the memory for future use/ The treatment ultimately helps with the child's movements, posture and speech.

"Three kids and their parents already went over this fall," Lori Randolph said. "They were ecstatic because their kids went over there not even being able to take a step. They took their first steps in Poland."

Once the Randolphs learned of the treatment, they joined about a dozen other couples - most from Oakland County - to figure out ways to raise the money to go to Poland.

Costs for the trip and treatment for one month range from $5,500 to $7,000. That's when the generous donations from the community began pouring in.

"It's been nothing but positive and wonderful things ever since this whole thing started," Lori Randolph said. "It's really neat and overwhelming, especially at Christmas time."

Lori Randolph is optimistic - but realistic - about the treatment. "When Veronica gets off that plane, I'm trying hard not to expect her to walk off and say 'Hi mom, it's me.' I don't know if we're going to see the immediate effect," she said. "Her physical therapist at school has always said 'She's going to walk,' but I just didn't see it... But I think she is strong enough to walk."

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