BRabbit...
I am so sorry to hear that you had those experiences. I cannot imagine the dispare you must have felt.
Where do you live when you were inquiring? What kind of care do you have now? They are doing marvellous procedures with donor nerves etc, electronic stimulus programs etc...Never give up.
I would love to assist you in any way possible...
No problem...this is one of the reason's why I am here...
A Big Hug Too You!
Mardelle
Sharing my experiences after 22 years with BPI and a woman too!
Re: Sharing my experiences after 22 years with BPI and a woman too!
Mardelle do you have an email address? I would like to tell you my story if you have time to listen..
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Dan
- Posts: 170
- Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:08 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Injured 5/11/86, had just turned 18 yrs old
Evulsed C5-T1
Intercostal into Bicep 10/86 - Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
Re: Sharing my experiences after 22 years with BPI and a woman too!
Mardelle,
I'll pass on the comments comparing different countries health care systems and just focus on my experience. I went to Dr Hudson because a friend of mine who was hurt a year earlier and had the resources to do the research, said there were three or four Dr's around the world that were the best BPI Dr's at the time and Dr Hudson happened to be the one that worked out for me. Didn't know really anything about other patients of his, other than a guy in hospital at same time having same surgery and that he had done over 100 BPI surgeries by the time I saw him.
Yes, I had the intercostal graph, worked as intended, in the beginning I had to breath deeply to get the bicep to fire, but as time went along, the brain changed to just being able to "flex" the bicep to get it to work, don't think about it anymore, just use it.
I don't remember Dr. Hudson being anything other than very nice to me and my parents, kinda acted as a quasi tour guide for them as they explored Toronto. I do remember he really got the students very involved in the post surgery details and asked them tons of questions.
As far a life for me, I would say a normal life, college, career, disaster first marriage I should have avoided, when that ended in my early 30's, decided to see if seeking God's plan in my life through Jesus Christ was a better path. Absolutely.....and now married to an amazing woman and have two children, 4 yr old girl, Jordan and 2 1/2 year old boy, Caleb.
If you have read my other posts, you will see I was athletic before the injury and have been athletic after the injury. I don't see the injury as anything that should or did change me. Sure it changed some of my athletic plans, I was a top water skier and wasn't able to ski in the world's or play college golf, but it didn't stop or alter me from enjoying athletics or life.
I was golfing within a month of the injury, I started college as a Freshman three months after and only missed a week of school when I had the surgery five months after the injury. I was snowskiing within six months and waterskiing again right at one year. I have done whatever sport I have wanted to do and just started doing triathlon's last year and have one in three weeks.
I say all this not to say look at all I have done, but to let others with this injury know that it doesn't need to define you. I still look in the mirror and see the same person I have always seen and I know God loves me the same, one armed or two.
One other thing I will add, for those who choose to make a difference, just know you have a tremendous opportunity to impact other peoples lives as they will see you as someone who has had to overcome some challenges and will be inspired by your story, embrace it and let the injury be an inspiration for others.
I'll get off the soapbox now and get ready for some training tomorrow so I will be better prepared for my triathlon:)
Dan
I'll pass on the comments comparing different countries health care systems and just focus on my experience. I went to Dr Hudson because a friend of mine who was hurt a year earlier and had the resources to do the research, said there were three or four Dr's around the world that were the best BPI Dr's at the time and Dr Hudson happened to be the one that worked out for me. Didn't know really anything about other patients of his, other than a guy in hospital at same time having same surgery and that he had done over 100 BPI surgeries by the time I saw him.
Yes, I had the intercostal graph, worked as intended, in the beginning I had to breath deeply to get the bicep to fire, but as time went along, the brain changed to just being able to "flex" the bicep to get it to work, don't think about it anymore, just use it.
I don't remember Dr. Hudson being anything other than very nice to me and my parents, kinda acted as a quasi tour guide for them as they explored Toronto. I do remember he really got the students very involved in the post surgery details and asked them tons of questions.
As far a life for me, I would say a normal life, college, career, disaster first marriage I should have avoided, when that ended in my early 30's, decided to see if seeking God's plan in my life through Jesus Christ was a better path. Absolutely.....and now married to an amazing woman and have two children, 4 yr old girl, Jordan and 2 1/2 year old boy, Caleb.
If you have read my other posts, you will see I was athletic before the injury and have been athletic after the injury. I don't see the injury as anything that should or did change me. Sure it changed some of my athletic plans, I was a top water skier and wasn't able to ski in the world's or play college golf, but it didn't stop or alter me from enjoying athletics or life.
I was golfing within a month of the injury, I started college as a Freshman three months after and only missed a week of school when I had the surgery five months after the injury. I was snowskiing within six months and waterskiing again right at one year. I have done whatever sport I have wanted to do and just started doing triathlon's last year and have one in three weeks.
I say all this not to say look at all I have done, but to let others with this injury know that it doesn't need to define you. I still look in the mirror and see the same person I have always seen and I know God loves me the same, one armed or two.
One other thing I will add, for those who choose to make a difference, just know you have a tremendous opportunity to impact other peoples lives as they will see you as someone who has had to overcome some challenges and will be inspired by your story, embrace it and let the injury be an inspiration for others.
I'll get off the soapbox now and get ready for some training tomorrow so I will be better prepared for my triathlon:)
Dan
Re: Sharing my experiences after 22 years with BPI and a woman too!
Hi Dan...
Thanks for your sharing...it is through this act of giving that we all are able to explore and express the depths of our knowledge and blessings through experiences.
Everyone's personal journey is slightly different. All TBPI differ in degree of injury, the length of time healing, personal perspective, long range goals, support systems, over all out look on life and their injury.
I completely embrace the life philosophy of staying positive on all levels. For me this is my way of life and my survival for my own TBPI. Failure is not an option.
I continually seek to be the very best I can be on any given day and do the best I possibly can to perform at the very best level I can. I do not have false expectations, but real one's and when I pass that moment to brace myself to sleep at night, I find an inner and peace & tranquility with it all.
The blessings around us are everywhere in abundance.
Opening our hearts, minds and hanging on with one arm or two is all any of us can do...being open to all of it...makes for living a full and eventually a purposeful life...regardless of any afflictions on any level.
Thank God for all the Doctors gifted to Heal..
With Peace, Love & Light
Mardelle
Thanks for your sharing...it is through this act of giving that we all are able to explore and express the depths of our knowledge and blessings through experiences.
Everyone's personal journey is slightly different. All TBPI differ in degree of injury, the length of time healing, personal perspective, long range goals, support systems, over all out look on life and their injury.
I completely embrace the life philosophy of staying positive on all levels. For me this is my way of life and my survival for my own TBPI. Failure is not an option.
I continually seek to be the very best I can be on any given day and do the best I possibly can to perform at the very best level I can. I do not have false expectations, but real one's and when I pass that moment to brace myself to sleep at night, I find an inner and peace & tranquility with it all.
The blessings around us are everywhere in abundance.
Opening our hearts, minds and hanging on with one arm or two is all any of us can do...being open to all of it...makes for living a full and eventually a purposeful life...regardless of any afflictions on any level.
Thank God for all the Doctors gifted to Heal..
With Peace, Love & Light
Mardelle