I LIKE TO TELL YOU MY STORY

[Rahz]

I'm a 26 yr old male and have lived all my life with my handicapp. During birth the doctor damaged my right arm by pulling on it destroying the nerves in the brachial plexus. I have very limited movement with my right arm. There was nothing the doctors could do to correct it at the time. They tried making a cast for the arm so it would grow the correct way but being a kid you tend not to understand the importance of that so I use to remove the cast. So all my life I had to learn how to do things with one arm which is more of a challenge but was able to cope with it at times. Trust me it does get difficult.
It's so great I stumbled across this site. I never knew they had a forum for my situation. I always wanted to know other peoples experiences through life. Since its the 21st century are there any fixes for this?

[Rahz]

I cant raise my right arm above my head, cannot open my fingers all the way, my hand stays semi-closed. I feel soreness in the wrist at times. I cannot lift the same ammount of weight with my right arm as I can do with my left arm. My arm didnt grow the same length and size as my left arm. Its slightly shorter.

[Shannon03]

Welcome! Please go to the Adult OBPI at http://ubpn.org/messageboard/forum.jsp?forum=19. There are many great adults that have had surgery recently and I am sure they would be glad to share their stories. Also, read the archives for that message board. Best wishes!
Shannon (mom to a 21 month old daughter with a right obstetrical brachial plexus injury)

[admin]

So glad you found us. This is a great place! Please do visit the adult board and this board as well. There are possible options for you, but it would be better coming from other adults. Sure hope you can meet up with others if you haven't. There is a lot of wonderful adults who have lived with this injury. If there is any way to make it to the UBPN camp in September in the D.C. area, you should go. It would be an amazing experience for you. Also, be sure to get on the Outreach mailing list. Welcome!

[Karen McClune]

Rahz,

To be put on the Outreach mailing list please send your mailing address to Nancy@ubpn.org.

Yes, it would be wonderful if you could make it to camp in Sept. There are so many adults that have lived with this injury and there is so much to learn from them.

My very best to you always,

Hugs, Karen
camp coordinator
karen@ubpn.org