Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn

[admin]

Thank you to everyone who has responded to my original post. I see it has been taken a few different ways. I never said that TCH was not a good hospital, I only made reference to what I recieved in the mail from the clinic there (about waiting in a room with other families, and having it seem very busy with all the Dr.'s etc. coming and going). I prefer to have a set appointment for any kind of medical visit. I prefer to have a more individualized visit from the Dr. When you say that you have 2 clinics a week for these problems, that to me says more people in, more people out. That is only my impression from the material the recieved. Everyone has impressions and opinions. If that set up works for you and your family, great. I wanted to seek other facilities which I felt were more individualized for my daughters own unique health problems. How many other parents out there have other medical problems to handle with your brachial plexus child? I have always wondered about that. Trying to maintain multiple diagonises, weekly therapy for other medical reasons, also having 2 other children and a husband who works to support the family because our daughter has multiple medical issues and it does not allow me any time to work because of the amount of care she needs. My family picking up and going down to TCH, is not a viable option for us. I commend the families it does work for. Thank you for letting me voice my opinion, even if it has caused mixed emotions on this board. Everyone has the same reason for being on these boards. Regardless if we have the same opinions or not. The best interest for our own unique child and there well being for now and the future. Merry Christmas and God Bless....Tracey

[admin]

Thank you for clarifying all of this, Tracey. You see, all of us have our crosses to bear. Many of us have other children and many of our bpi children have other issues besides the bpi. We're all quite defensive about the bpi specialist who gives us hope! Thank goodness there are a number of programs around the country to accomodate the unfortunate numbers of bpi injured children. We all do select our specialists--whether bpi, kidney, heart, lung, etc.--based on how they will custom treat our children. Every injury is different as is every child's level of illness with a disease. One of the hardest things I've had to do in my life is get on a plane with my husband and baby, leave my other 2 young children at home with grandparents, and fly out-of-state for bpi treatment. There wasn't anyone in our state who can intervene surgically. We had to go out-of-state if it was going to be treated. So, when I cheer for my bpi facility, it is because I can comment on our experience. When others who've gone to Boston, or Pittsburgh, or Virginia, or Miami, or Seattle cheer about their experience, I say BRAVO! Unfortunately, there are too many of our babies injured. Perhaps we should direct our ire at the birth practitioners who injured our babies in the first place! Any doctor who can improve our children's recovery of function is a blessing. Merry Christmas, Tracey. God bless your children and family.

[francine]

I 2nd that....Merry Christmas and good will to all...

In gratitude to all the doctors out there all over the world who are dedicated to helping our children.

-francine

[TNT1999]

Tracey, thank you for clarifying. I would also like to suggest that maybe you'd like to share the nature of the other issues going on with your daughter. Who knows, maybe there are others here going through the same or similar issues either with their child with the BPI or perhaps with another child. Of course, if you'd rather not share here, that's okay too. Just don't feel like this board is only for discussing BPIs. I have found that there are many "listening ears" here who are ready to support however than can. Afterall, everyone here has experience with taking care of children with special needs (or taking care of their own special needs).

Kristie, thank you for openly sharing your honest feelings. I think you had the courage to post what some others (not specifically talking about anyone in particular) feel or have felt, but haven't had the courage to post (or may not even realize their feelings yet) -- and I'm NOT saying this is the case with everyone who goes somewhere other than to TCH. I think that initially when we were seeking out a BP Specialist, that part of the reason I included TCH was b/c I felt that we needed to include them with all that I read here about them. I felt that we wouldn't have been doing a thorough search if we didn't at least include them in our selection process. I don't know if I would've always been so confident in posting about our BP specialist either had we not chosen to go there, and it has nothing to do with anyone but myself (as you too pointed out) b/c I really have never seen anyone putting someone down for going somewhere else. What I have seen is people suggesting TCH as a 2nd opinion to people who've gone elsewhere (but then, I've also seen people, including myself, suggest a 2nd opinion to people who have gone to TCH -- so I guess it goes both ways and 2nd opinions are always good regardless of where you go). I don't want to speak for others, but I can't see your post offending anyone b/c you're only speaking for yourself. I too hope I didn't offend anyone here and honestly have no one in mind when I write, but am just thinking of my feelings. I really commend you for coming forward and sharing these thoughts. I think it took a lot of courage and I hope others come forward too or at least maybe do some self examination to see if they may share similar thoughts. THANK YOU!! -Tina