Jamie and Jenny Groen know what it’s like to see your child in chronic pain every day. Their daughter, Angelina, is dealing with a variety of health issues that all stem from the fact that she has cerebral palsy (CP).
“We know Angelina does struggle with pain and discomfort from day to day. We can see it in her face,” Jamie says.
The Groen’s adopted Angelina from Haiti and are grateful a friend, who was a nurse, recommended they take Angelina to Gillette Children’s when she came home to Willmar, Minnesota.
“It means a lot to us as parents, that organizations like Gillette will take special interest in our child and are willing to put resources, time, and effort into exploring how to get better treatment for people like Angelina,” Jamie says.
Jenny and Jamie Groen are grateful for the research and care being done at Gillette Children's to help their daughter Angelina.
Gillette researchers are passionate about investigating chronic pain and bringing comfort
Gillette senior clinical scientist, Chantel Burkitt, PhD, is passionate about conducting research to improve the lives of people who have disabilities and complex conditions.
Dr. Burkitt and a team of Gillette investigators collaborate with scientists, clinicians and families to design novel research studies that will help shape future care.
“We know from previous research that pain impacts every part of life—mood, mobility, cognitive capacity, relationships, and being able to do things you enjoy,” Dr. Burkitt says. “I think being comfortable in your own body is a basic human right that I’d like everyone to experience.”
Gillette pain research improves lives
Gillette has been awarded and collaborates on multiple federally funded initiatives with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide support for health-related research and development.
Dr. Burkitt received an NIH R01 grant to research postsurgical pain. “The Predictors of Pain” study examines what might indicate lasting pain after surgery in children ages 5-17 who have cerebral palsy (CP).
Gillette pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Tom Novacheck, MD, is the chair of the Cerebral Palsy Institute and a co-investigator on the study. He’s an international expert in caring for individuals who have CP and says the study findings will be used to improve pain management for children who have CP--not just at Gillette but everywhere.
Gillette Children’s Cerebral Palsy Institute is the world's foremost innovator in clinical care, forward-thinking research, and patient advocacy. The singular condition focus aligns with specialty care, resulting in personalized, innovative care that thoughtfully guides each patient/family.
Gillette senior clinical scientist, Chantel Burkitt, PhD, is passionate about conducting research to improve the lives of people who have disabilities and complex conditions.
At the forefront of studying new technology to manage pain
Dr. Burkitt is involved in current research that centers on investigating how virtual reality (VR) affects pain and anxiety management after spinal fusion surgery.
In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, Gillette researchers are also conducting sensory testing to better understand pain. Sensory testing involves quick tests to determine how children react to things like light touch, a tiny pin prick, and warm or cool temperatures on the skin. These tests provide some insight into participants’ pain experience and how their nerve fibers are working. Dr. Burkitt and collaborators at the University of Minnesota spent 10 years confirming this method of sensory testing is accurate with childhood-onset disabilities, including those who are not easily able to communicate their pain.
Gillette is an international leader in pain research
Gillette played an important role at the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands in August 2024.
Gillette pediatrician and palliative medicine physician, Todd Dalberg, DO, presented a poster describing the pain outcomes following osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for patients with chronic pain. OMT involves moving a patient’s joints and muscles using stretching, resistance, and gentle pressure. The Gillette patients in the study showed a significant decrease in pain immediately following OMT.
Angelina, Logan, and Samantha all recieve care for chronic pain at Gillette Children's. They, and their parents, participated in a video to share their stories of dealing with chronic pain.
Families share their stories
The IASP conference included the premiere of a Gillette produced video featuring three patient families who shared their stories about how having a child dealing with chronic pain impacts the entire family.
The Groen family was one of the families featured in the video. Jamie and Jenny shared their powerful plea for healthcare providers to continue working on solutions to help children like their daughter, Angelina.
Jenny believes solutions to pain will greatly improve people’s lives. She adds, “Just because we’re not in your office every week, telling you that our child is in pain, doesn’t mean it went away. It means we’re probably just muddling through, because that’s what we tend to do when there aren’t solutions.”
A partnership for the greater good
Dr. Burkitt and the Gillette research team are proud of the partnerships they are making with families who can share their lived experience with various health concerns. Gillette is also grateful for the collaborations with academic and healthcare organizations throughout the world.
“I really want to thank our families who have given their time and energy to be part of our studies,” Dr. Burkitt says. “It has made a difference. We are working hard to be at the forefront of innovation. We’re excited to partner with our patients and families to embark on a new series of treatment research studies.”
You can read more about how to participate in research at Gillette.
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