Jocey is wiggling a little her fingers 10 days after the muscle transplant!

[Jocelisse's Parents]

Is a terrific joy in our heart and we want to share with all you. Jocey started yesterday to move the index and the middle fingers a little bit. We never though she will be able to do it too soon only 10 days after the surgery.
I started to cry and laugh like crazy when I saw her wiggling her little fingers. She was looking to me like what happen? Mami is happy but is crying? I went to the phone and called my husband to tell him the good news. We are happy and excited because Dr. Klebuc told us he will switch the nerve from the old muscle to the new muscle and if the muscle do not work she will not have any kind of movement on her hand.

[francine]

CONGRATULATIONS JOCEY AND IVELISSE AND JOSE AND THE LITTE ONE TOO!!! I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A PARTY TONIGHT!!! YOU ALL CERTAINLY DESERVE THIS!!

Thank you so much for sharing this fantastic news.
Thank God Thank God Thank God!!!

Wonderful!!!!

Kissies to Jocey!!!

-francine

[christy]

Woohoo Jocey!! Awesome, wish we could all be there for a big BPI party. Oh Ivelesse, I do hope that you feel better now...see what you guys did for your baby? Many tears of joy for your whole family

christy

[browning93]

Hi!, My name is LeeAnne. I'm new to the board( a couple of weeks) and have been keeping up with Jocey's reports and progress. I know you are so thrilled! My daughter is having Mod Quad this Tuesday at TCH. I'm keeping you and your family in my prayers. I remember after Michaela's first surgery ,the first finger movement I saw I wanted to jump, scream and broadcast live from every Tv station in the world! LOL Tell her to keep up the good work. Will be looking for more progress reports. LeeAnne Browning

[TNT1999]

Ivelisse, your post brings joy to my heart!!! I hope this is just the beginning of exciting new movements! I was really hoping that you would get some positive feedback to help you all deal with this, but didn't know you'd get that feedback so soon! Please tell Jocey how happy I am for her. -Tina :0)

[Paula]

GO JOCEY GO!!!!
God Bless your family.
-----Paula

[admin]

Congratulations on the great news, hopefulyy very soon, she'll be making a fist easily .

I have a question for you, has Jocey ever had nerve grafting surgery for the nerves that supply the hand, did she notice any improvement from the nerve graft surgery if it was done. I am 6 months post nerve grafting ( I am a traumatic bpi), no movement at all till now, very frustrating at times. I am trying to be hopeful.

Please give me some info

thank you very much
suzan

[Jocelisse's Parents]

Hi Susan
Yes, Jocey had the nerve grafting. Was when she had six months and was done at the Texas Children's. Jocey had total avulsion from C-5 to T-1. She was the worse case ever seen at the TCH. Is five years since that. To do the graft they used some intercostals nerves too. When she is laughing you see her arm wiggling. Was hard for her learn to control the different movements of her arm because some of them come from the muscle who do the breathing (chest) movement. She was 13 hours at the surgery room the first time. We started to see some improvement one and a half year after the surgery when she was two years old. Her recovery stopped four years after the surgery. She could move her shoulder, she have flexion on her elbow, wrist and a little bit of flexion on her index finger.

Then she had the mod quad her second surgery (muscle release) one week before she turned five. This one took around three hours. This surgery allow her to touch the crown of her head now.

And now the gracilis muscle transfer six months after the mod quad. She had a little bit of movement on her index finger before the surgery. The doctor did the transplant but before the surgery he aware us of her possible lack of movement on her hand if the muscle didn't work. This surgery took also around 13 hours like the first one. Was the second worse experience for us. But is amazing how fast she is able to do at least a little bit of movement in a short period of time was only 10 days after the surgery. That is a good sign. It means the muscle is working and the nerve was well connected to the new muscle. We never though the nerve will be sending electrical conduction too soon. Now the most important part will be the therapy to strong the muscle. She is not ready yet for therapy, she still wearing all time a cast for immobilize her arm and still resting. Today is 13 days since the surgery. If everything goes well she will be able to hold a cup with her lbp arm.

Remember before all this surgeries Jocey do not have any kind of movement or sensation on her arm. Her arm was completely dead. If you want more technical info like which nerve was connected to which other I could give it to you.

Also remember the regeneration of a nerve take a long time. Is approximately one or two centimeters per month. That is why we saw late recovery on Jocey almost four years after her first surgery the was the point of her maximum recovery.

Don't be frustrated Jocey is a life example of how long the recovery could take. Be hopeful. Keep doing the Range of Motion exercises and your hand will be ready when the movement will start. Where was your trauma shoulder or arm? Did the Drs. gave you an idea of how long will take? Do you have a e-stim device?
We will be praying for your soon recovery.

Be positive everything will go well. Be patient and remember the rom exercise is only six months after your surgery. We had the same experience you are living now. I now is very frustrating. If you want you could call me. email me and I will give you my phone number.

Big Hugs,
Ivelisse

[Jocelisse's Parents]

Sorry Suzan

I did a mistake when I wrote your name.

Big Husgs,
Ivelisse