message of hope for young parents...

[Samuel's dad]

Hello, I am the proud dad of a young boy nammed Samuel. Sam is now 12 years old and sufferd a bilateral obstetrical Erbs palsy. Both arms where affected and thank God we where put on Dr Clarke's path in Toronto ( because we live in Montréal, Quebec)
Samuel underwent two long nerve grafts and did so many hours of ROM, PT, OT. He is a very cute kid and has lots of good friends at school. Never was he made fun of, and the only time he had a comment was because he outplayed the kid in front of him. My boy plays intercity soccer and is one of the good players in his team. He has a more limited use of his upper members but he sure can push around his way.
Sam started golf this summer, he took lessons, practiced a lot and when we got to PT this fall, they noticed that he gained even more range of motion.
Never have we sat on our butts. We pushed him a lot, but boy am i proud of him when he brings me home straight A's from school and is still very athletic even when having Erb's.

So for all of you reading this and wondering how will be life with a BPI baby, take things one at the time. Listen to your kid when he will get olderand help him with the right tools he will need in life. Dont get me wrong, BPI has taken many years of my life's precious energies but we have learned never to quit...keep on R.O.M'.ing
Good luck to all of you.

Nicolas

[KimW]

Thanks for your great message. I think it is something all BPI parents need to be reminded of from time to time! They will find a way -- we just need to give them the support to do it!

Kim

[Louise]

Nicolas....thank you so much for what you wrote...you are so right...you did a fine job encouraging other parents...my 16 year old daughter also makes us very proud everyday...we cannot give up...peace...Louise