More questions....

[Amy]

Hello again! I just want to thank everyone who answered my last questions, and now I have slept a little I remembered more!

Why does everyone ask me if the dr used a vacuum or forceps when he was trying to get Abbie "unstuck"?

Abbie's surgeon is T.S. Parks, has anyone heard of him?
If so what have you heard?

How do I know if I can trust my lawyer will do what is best for Abbie?
He has handled and "won" his share of BPI cases, and to be sure he says he hires co-counsel. What is the usual outcome of these cases?

What can be done if the Dr changes the med. records?

Every professional that Abbie has seen is weary of answering all my questions, which makes me weary of them.
I just hear "We don't know for sure at this time"
But can anyone who's been through it tell me, will she still be able to crawl or do infants w/ Erbs just wait until they can learn to walk?
She moves her fingers & wrist, but nothing at the shoulder and very little at the elbow.

Sorry if I am repeating questions that have been asked in the past, I have gone through some of the message board, but haven't had tim to read it all!

Thanks for everything & have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Stay safe!
Amy

[ptrefam]

Each BP injury is different and that is why you can't seem to get an answer. Even if they sound the same, like the same nerves are affected the outcome can be different. I know every question we asked was answered with "each one is different, it all takes time". I heard this so much I wanted to strangle the next person that said it. But, unfortunately that seems to be true. The best thing is to find a BPI specialist and they will be able to give you the best answers.

They ask about the vacuum and forcepts because the pressure caused using these may cause the injury.

Some of the kids crawl, some combat crawl. It just depends on the arm.

If your lawyer is familiar with BP that seems to be a good thing as many haven't even heard of it. But, go with your gut I think. Only you know if you feel comfortable and confident with him. Again each case is different and so are the out comes.

The best thing would be if you have gotten the records before the Dr. can change anything. But, in any case it is good to get the records sooner than later. Also write down what you recall, your husband should too if he was there. This way you can be sure to recall as much detail as possible.
Sue

[claudia]

Amy:
Welcome. You have lots of questions and unfortunately, for some of them there aren't cut and dried answers. But here goes...
1. By "everyone" I will assume the bpi specialists and the lawyers are asking the pulling question of you. They, for differing reasons, are trying to determine how the doc got Abbie out. The bpi specialists because it helps them understand a little bit more about the severity of the "stuckness" and the lawyers, because it gives them a view to their "end game" in the lawsuit. You will be asked this question many times and you will be asked to relive the delivery many times. Legally and emotionally, it has its purposes.

2. How can you trust your lawyer? How did you hear about your lawyer? From other bpi families that used him and had positive outcomes? From a trusted friend or family member who is a lawyer? From someone who also had a medmal suit? From a TV ad?
You have to trust yourself. If you feel comfortable with him, then go with him. If you are having doubts, then interview other lawyers. Ask lots of questions: how many cases have you handled? how many have gone to trial? how many have you settled out of court? can I talk to someone who used you? if I call you with a question, will you call me back or an associate? (on this it is up to you--if you don't mind the associate or if you want the big guy to do it)

Only 40% of bpi cases come to a positive conclusion. (Amazing but true) We have the full range of experiences here on the board. We have people who settled out of court for a sum with which they are happy, we have people who settled for an amount which they didn't like, we have people who settled because insurance companies were going out of business, we have people who went to trial and won, we have people who went to trial and lost. Ask any and all questions.

3. Dr. Parks is well known in bpi circles. We have a medical resources page on the website where a number of docs have their contact information. I always recommend that people get more than one opinion. Many (most) will respond to emails and many will do a "video" look.

4. Nothing can be "done" if the doc changes the medical records. We got 2 copies of my and Juliana's med records from the delivering hospital. The first we got fairly quickly, saying we were moving and needed her records for the new docs...and the second was ordered by my lawyers. They did not look the same! Most good lawyers can see the where the changes were made and will jump on it during the case.

5. "Every professional" ??? Lawyers? Doctors? OTs? PTs? Some people just aren't accustomed to having a parent ask questions. Keep pressing on.

6. "We don't know for sure at this time." Get used to it. This is a complicated and difficult injury to diagnose and to treat. The doctors do not agree, as they are all still constantly learning new things about the injury, how it heals, which surgeries work to do certain things but not others... I can assure you that if they could tell you something, they would. The first few months are a wait and see time. There are some standards for primary that seem to be taking hold (at least in this country-they are a little different in Europe). Much of the diagnosing takes place by watching the function. If she can move her fingers and wrist, then they know there isn't a lower plexus injury-that would make primary an early necessity. They will keep watching and seeing what progress she makes on her own. Again, another opinion from a bpi specialist might make you feel better.

7. BPI kids are like other kids in so many ways! Some crawl, some do the combat crawl, some do the butt scoot and some go straight to walking. Abbie will decide which route works best for her. Juliana was unable to crawl until she was well approaching 3 years old. Crawling to her was always a therapy exercise. She is almost 7 and couldn't care less and really doesn't remember! It is so much more important now to say "SNAP" like Raven on "That's so Raven" than it is to crawl around!!

Right now it is all so very new and overwhelming. Take the time to just enjoy having a young baby who is sweet and coos and thinks the world of you. She will not be defined by this injury,unless you choose to define her by it. Juliana is off to 2nd grade, a happy, funny, bright and caring little girl. Her arm is not the focus anymore, swimming and horseback riding and learning a two-wheeler are. This is a tough time for parents. There are so many questions and none of the answers seem to be enough. Breathe, take some time out for yourself. And know that you can do it. You can learn about this injury and do the best for your child and she will be a little girl. She will have friends and playdates and get dirty and like dolls or trucks or tennis or soccer or swimming or dance....she will be so much more than an injury.

good luck,
claudia

[kamren]

Most of your questions, I don't know the answers to, as I was the OBPI baby.

But I do know that I never crawled. Mom told me that I would lay on my back, and push myself around with my legs.

She was very upset by it because it wore my hair off the back of my head. She was tickled pink when I started walking and my hair grew back in!

[Jake'smom]

the crawing thing is very specific to the child. I read recently though that crawling itself isn't a milestone. The milestone is reaching for something out of reach and figuring out a way to get to it. So whatever way your baby figures out how to do this is fine. Many on here have expressed different ways in which their children have "crawled" and all of them are ok! By the way my mom says my sister combat crawled until she walked and she had no injury! So regardless of injury all babies will find their own way in the world. Just try to enjoy every moment!

[mynani]

Hi AMy! I just thought I would try to help out with a few of your questions...our daughter is almost 7 and she has a ROBPI...she learned to crawl a few days after she turned 9 months, but crawled army style. her PT asked us to discourage her from walking because once they can walk well, they do not want to crawl, and the crawling is really very good PT for their arm since they must move it against gravity....how old is Abbie? (Sorry, I did not read through all of the posts...) We also sued, and the advice I would offer there is just to make sure that your lawyer handles a lot of these cases....We used an attorney who specialized in them...The medical records will tell the story, as they did in our case....our attorney proved via the telemetry strips that there was 1 1/2 minutes between the delivery of Juliana's head and the delivery of her shoulders, and there was nothing in her chart about a shoulder dystocia, so he was held liable for actually failing to diagnose the fact that Juliana was "stuck" for over a minute. I wish you the best of luck, please feel free to ask any questions, my email is kpoje@hvc.rr.com... My heart goes out to you, I know I always had so many questions myself... What surgery is Abbie having? Juliana just had a tendon transfer 6 weeks ago.

Kim