What To Say
-
AlannahD
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 3:55 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 7-year-old granddaughter, LOBPI
What To Say
Alannah is almost 9 and has begun to question why she has this injury, and why can't she be normal - how has everyone else handled this stage? Thanks, Camille
-
Carolyn J
- Posts: 3424
- Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.
My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!
I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too. - Location: Tacoma WA
- Contact:
Re: What To Say
Camille there is a topic thread on this on the "Adults & teens With OBPI Message Board. I myself couldn't find it but I know it's there someplace! 
Carolyn J
LOBPI/73+
Carolyn J
LOBPI/73+
-
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: What To Say
Tell her sometimes, people make mistkes that make very special people. She is very special in that she has been able to overcome so many obstacles. Then you ask her was her definition of normal is. I wish someone had asked me that because as I have gotten older, I have come to realize that my perception of normal was crazy...what is normal anyway. Each person faces a challenge in some form or another, some people have a body part that doesn't work right while others can't read or spell or they feel like they can't make friends or they can't sleep. Every person is different to keep the world a special place to live, if we were all the same, we wouldn't learn to appreciate the things we all learn to do differently.
Thinking back, I used to ask why me a lot, then I realized that without my injury, I would not have gotten to meet all the very awesome people that I have met nor would I be the person I am today. I have a special understanding with my patients as to what they are going through when we are working in therapy because I have been there, I understand pain and hard work and even more, I understand what meeting goals means to my patients because I have been there. I have this injury because I needed to be able to understand where my patients are coming from so that I can be a better therapist for them. I have this injury to teach me to appreciate the small things and to never lose hope when hope seems so hard to hold on to.
Hope that helps give some perspective to help out a very special girl!
Hugs,
Amy 24 years old ROBPI from MN
Thinking back, I used to ask why me a lot, then I realized that without my injury, I would not have gotten to meet all the very awesome people that I have met nor would I be the person I am today. I have a special understanding with my patients as to what they are going through when we are working in therapy because I have been there, I understand pain and hard work and even more, I understand what meeting goals means to my patients because I have been there. I have this injury because I needed to be able to understand where my patients are coming from so that I can be a better therapist for them. I have this injury to teach me to appreciate the small things and to never lose hope when hope seems so hard to hold on to.
Hope that helps give some perspective to help out a very special girl!
Hugs,
Amy 24 years old ROBPI from MN
Amy 28 years old ROBPI from MN
-
brittwitt
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:37 am
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI
Injured at birth. Moderate injury with no surgeries. - Location: Austin, TX
Re: What To Say
I agree with everything Amy said! Everybody has different obstacles to overcome and this is ours. How we deal with it shapes who we are. We could be pitied or be an inspiration depending on our attitudes!
I remember my mom telling me when I was about that age that God gave me an arm injury because I was so smart, pretty, and great at everything that it wouldn't be fair to the other kids if I didn't have one; He had to even it out somehow. I completely believed that and anytime I was frustrated because I couldn't do something other kids could I would remember that and think it was just God's way of leveling the playing field. Haha needless to say my ego was pretty big at that age, but I definitely think it's better to have too much confidence than have self-esteem issues.
Hope that helps!
Brittney, 19
LOBPI
I remember my mom telling me when I was about that age that God gave me an arm injury because I was so smart, pretty, and great at everything that it wouldn't be fair to the other kids if I didn't have one; He had to even it out somehow. I completely believed that and anytime I was frustrated because I couldn't do something other kids could I would remember that and think it was just God's way of leveling the playing field. Haha needless to say my ego was pretty big at that age, but I definitely think it's better to have too much confidence than have self-esteem issues.
Hope that helps!
Brittney, 19
LOBPI
-
Carolyn J
- Posts: 3424
- Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.
My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!
I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too. - Location: Tacoma WA
- Contact:
Re: What To Say
Amen,AMEN!! I "3rd" everything Amy and Brittney said in their post above.
Best answers yet on this topic. Brittney , you are "Special" and inspire me!
HUGGZ all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/73+
Best answers yet on this topic. Brittney , you are "Special" and inspire me!
HUGGZ all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/73+
-
F-Litz
- Posts: 970
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 6:53 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, LTBPI at age 6.5, Sensory Issues, CP, Diaphragm Weakness, Aspberger's
- Location: Ambler, PA
Re: What To Say
I've told Maia that every person on earth has a journey and this is the journey that was chosen for her. When she was younger I'd explain to her how every person on earth was different and I gave her different things that she could survey herself (for example, can you find two people who write the exact same way?)
When she got angry about her issues, I finally got to the point where I had to be strong about it and I explain to her that no one woke up that morning and said "Today, I'm going to injure a baby!" As long as there is a human involved - mistakes happen. And I tell her that every single person on earth makes mistakes and she'll make her share of them, too -- some of them will affect other people and some of them will just affect her.... but that's what being human is all about.
At age 13, she's moved away from her arm and now she complains about her chin and her hair and some stretch marks that have popped up.... I giggle inside when I hear about all these other things - it's so cute and I'm glad she's moved on a bit and into normal teenager stuff.
When she got angry about her issues, I finally got to the point where I had to be strong about it and I explain to her that no one woke up that morning and said "Today, I'm going to injure a baby!" As long as there is a human involved - mistakes happen. And I tell her that every single person on earth makes mistakes and she'll make her share of them, too -- some of them will affect other people and some of them will just affect her.... but that's what being human is all about.
At age 13, she's moved away from her arm and now she complains about her chin and her hair and some stretch marks that have popped up.... I giggle inside when I hear about all these other things - it's so cute and I'm glad she's moved on a bit and into normal teenager stuff.