Today I was at my OT clinical internship where one of my patients was ROBPI. I noticed her when she first started coming to the rehab gym. I could tell she had BPI because its pretty severe.
Today I treated her and asked her if they gave her a name for what was wrong with her arm(in her chart she called it a congenital birth injury that left her right arm paralyzed). She said it was a brachial plexus injury.
We talked about it while I was working with her. She said she was a nurse for years and has always found a way to get along.
This is the 1st time in my 27 years I met someone with OBPI si its kinda neat. Just thought I's share.
Becky
Finally met another with OBPI
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marieke
- Posts: 1627
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:00 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI
no external rotation against gravity, can only go to 90 degree fwd flexion, no hand-to-mouth
1 surgery at age 14 (latissimus dorsi transfer). In 2004, at age 28 I was struck with Transverse Myelitis which paralyzed me from the chest down. I recovered movement to my right leg, but need a KAFO to walk on my left leg. I became an RN in 2008. - Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Finally met another with OBPI
Very cool! I have met 2 others with BPI, but briefly, we were all in PT at the Shriners. I would love to meet you all!
Hope to see you at Camp 2007!
Marieke (31, LOBPI)
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you at Camp 2007!
Marieke (31, LOBPI)
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com/
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hope16_05
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:33 am
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 28 years old with a right obstetrical brachial plexus injury. 5 surgeries to date with pretty decent results. Last surgery resolved years of pain in my right arm however, I am beginning my journey with overuse in my left arm
- Location: Minnesota
- Contact:
Re: Finally met another with OBPI
Becky, you should really consider coming to camp, its amazing! Meeting some one else makes you not feel so alone, like your not the only one (even though we all know we are not the only one) its just more real when you meet people face to face.
I hope you are able to stay in contact with her!
Hugs,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN
I hope you are able to stay in contact with her!
Hugs,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN
Amy 28 years old ROBPI from MN
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karategirl1kyu
- Posts: 363
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:59 am
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, had surgery when I was 9- they moved muscles and tendons from one side of my arm to the other side. I can lift my arm to about my eye level, can't straigten it all the way and can't completely supinate my wrist.
- Location: Richmond, RI
Re: Finally met another with OBPI
the first time i met someone else with OBPI i think i was like 10, i was in physical therepy, and i had had my operation a year prior. it was another child, half my age, and we would have our sessions together at Hasbro. I thought it was cool. Im 19 now, a junior at WNEC, and nobody understands it. I just basically use it as a way to make people laugh. I guess its the only way I've found to cope with the laughing people, make them laugh with me instead of at me.
MEL (19)
MEL (19)
~Mel/23/LOBPI
Re: Finally met another with OBPI
I've never met another person with a BPI. But it's nice to know there are others out there.
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Kath
- Posts: 3242
- Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
- Location: New York
Re: Finally met another with OBPI
I was so overjoyed when I met other OBPI/adults.
The first time I met other OBPI's they were all children and I found it so hard.
I knew all of the many things they would have to overcome and their struggles.
I found it very emotional, I cried the entire weekend after the picnic.
I realized that it was still happening and it was not rare!
A few months later I met with three adult/obpi and two adult/tbpi in Fla.
I cannot even express how happy I was to talk to people who understood and shared so many common experiences.
After that meeting in Fla. I was encouraged to go to Camp and I knew that was crazy!
I would not fit in and I could not imagine how a camp experience could possibly help me.
By the time Camp was organized and planned I was on the Board of Directors of UBPN and felt obliged to attend.
I was sure Camp would be a big bust for me and wondered how my husband would fit in.
Well, needless to say, we had a GREAT time!
I enjoyed it more than I could ever imagine.
My husband enjoyed it and come home with a new understand of my injury.
BTW we really never spoke about my arm.
He knew about it but did not see it as a big deal.
He had no idea how much it bothered me or how limited I am and knew nothing about the pain.
I learned a long time ago not to complain because no one could understand what I was describing.
Our camp experience was great.
My camp experience brought new insight into my injury for me and was so healing.
I have made so many friends through camp and met so many great families that I can't wait for Camp 2007 in WA.
I would encourage anyone and especially adults who have never met another bpi injured person to attend.
You will be amazed at how comforting it is to hang out with others who truly walk in your shoes... or should I say wear your jackets.
Kath Adult/robpi
The first time I met other OBPI's they were all children and I found it so hard.
I knew all of the many things they would have to overcome and their struggles.
I found it very emotional, I cried the entire weekend after the picnic.
I realized that it was still happening and it was not rare!
A few months later I met with three adult/obpi and two adult/tbpi in Fla.
I cannot even express how happy I was to talk to people who understood and shared so many common experiences.
After that meeting in Fla. I was encouraged to go to Camp and I knew that was crazy!
I would not fit in and I could not imagine how a camp experience could possibly help me.
By the time Camp was organized and planned I was on the Board of Directors of UBPN and felt obliged to attend.
I was sure Camp would be a big bust for me and wondered how my husband would fit in.
Well, needless to say, we had a GREAT time!
I enjoyed it more than I could ever imagine.
My husband enjoyed it and come home with a new understand of my injury.
BTW we really never spoke about my arm.
He knew about it but did not see it as a big deal.
He had no idea how much it bothered me or how limited I am and knew nothing about the pain.
I learned a long time ago not to complain because no one could understand what I was describing.
Our camp experience was great.
My camp experience brought new insight into my injury for me and was so healing.
I have made so many friends through camp and met so many great families that I can't wait for Camp 2007 in WA.
I would encourage anyone and especially adults who have never met another bpi injured person to attend.
You will be amazed at how comforting it is to hang out with others who truly walk in your shoes... or should I say wear your jackets.
Kath Adult/robpi
Kath robpi/adult
Kathleen Mallozzi
Kathleen Mallozzi