Introductions thanks to 20/20...lurkers welcome

[Kathleen]

Are anymore Lurkers going to post?

Come on don't be shy... just say Hi

[dpoganik]

Hi all,
It's been a long time since I posted though I do lurk now and again. My daughter Danielle is a 2 year old with robpi. She's doing really well now. She has an elbow contracture and cannot raise her arm fully above her head and now is resisting ALL attempts to therapy and rom exercises. Any sympathy or advice out there? All is welcome. Thanks

[Janny-scotland]

hi, im janny, 29. i live in scotland and im ropbi.i have no medical records so i really dont know too much about my injury....and until september last year i had never even heard the name "erbs palsy" and thought i was the only one in the world....then you guys came along and burst my bubble...im not as unique as i thought LOL

[Kathleen]

Janny

But your still Special!!!!! glad to see you back.
Kath

[Lisa S.]

Hi my name is Lisa Smith and i have an 11 yr. old boy with BPI birth injury. It has been such a long time since I have posted. Some of you may know me and alot of you may not. My son was 10'3 at birth and I had him naturally. He has bpi in his left arm. We have been to TCH for 3 surgeries. He has had improvement but still has work to do. He just is so tired of the exercises. He had his last surgery with Dr. Shenaq last year. We love Dr. Shenaq and his crew. Lisa Thompson is wonderful. He is a great kid and loves to play soccer and football. Also, loves the girls. We live in South Florida but will be moving in June to Pensacola Florida. Well, just wanted to get back into the swing of things. Thanks for listening.

Lisa Smith
(cody smiths mommy)

[Kathleen]

Hi All

I just spoke to a young man from NY... like the rest of us he had not met anyone with bpi...

I thought I would bump this up...

I hope he is reading and introduces himself.... it was nice talking to you...

I am hosting a support information shareing meeting tonight... and I am the only obpi who will be there....

Kath

[Kathleen]

I see some new names on the board and I think its time to bring this up to the top again....

Kath

[Katrina]

Hello.
First off thank you God for this board…I thought I was alone in this.

My name is Katrina and I have Erb's in my left arm (thank God I'm right handed). I am 35 years old now and I was… I guess…. born this way...lol
I was born during the riots in 1967 and my doctor could not make it to the hospital so “lucky me” was delivered by the unskilled nurse.

Anyway...growing up my parents never treated me different and I really did not think I was different until I was 27 years old applying for a job and in the pre-employment physical the nurse asked me if I had a handicap sticker...LOL

As a child I played many instruments, and was captain of the drill team, which I think helped me. I can type with both hands but have limited feeling and usage in my left (affected) hand/arm. My left arm is bent and I can't raise it over my head. I do exercises some times with it but I never had an MRI or PT. Although my parents did not treat me differently which was a positive, I think it left me ignorant. My school age music teacher did not reach me any different and in fact is the one who told me to start squeezing a ball that helped me gain use in my fingers. I still played and can still play the clarinet.

I am married with two wonderful boys. Sometimes I have to remind my family that I can't do certain things.

I have a BSBA in Management and I am a computer programmer for a major (foreign) automaker.

I almost forgot…I have VERY limited feeling in my left arm and I have NO feeling in my left hand.

My only complaint is the nervous surge that goes through my arm when I am feverish, coming down with a cold or stressed. I wonder if anyone else have had this problem.

I guess is maybe pain but since I cant feel anything it is just a surge type feeling. It makes me take off from work and just cry until it goes anyway which is about 2 days.

Anyway..Thank God I found you!

[Katrina]

How did you get money for school? I just paid over $40,000 for my degree

[admin]

Hello, I'm one of the lurking mommies. My son is 7 months old and has a right arm with OBPI and Horners. I find reading about what life is going to be like for him distressing however I'd rather know now. It seems that everyday there is something else wrong and we need to see yet another specialist.
Teresa