United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Rene, Based on your sign in, I am assuming you are from Alaska. I looked up some Assistive Technology sites, and disability resource sites that might be helpful.

http://www.uaf.edu/chc/assistive.html

http://www.resna.org/taproject/at/statecontacts.html

http://www.disabilityresources.org/ALASKA.html

http://www.nadc.ucla.edu/stateAll.cfm?state=1

How to play the piano with One Hand....This site covers everything, so troll around in it. http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pa ... l=22,12691

http://www.sailinc.org/services.php#assistive

http://www.alaskalawhelp.org/AK/StateCh ... AllState/0

http://www.onestoptoolkit.org/profile_Alaska.cfm

http://www.icdri.org/Assistive%20Techno ... assist.htm

http://edit.uaa.alaska.edu/dss/student/ ... nology.cfm

I already posted to this topic earlier, but after, I got to thinking. If it hadnt been for the people here, I dont know how I wouldve gotten through things sometimes, or have known what to do or say with James. And its so sad that when I first found this board, there was no one here with a traumatic injured child that I knew of, and its so sad, that they are more now. Faith, love, laughter and time do seem to be the best healers, but its getting through those 4 things all at one time that seems to be the hardest.

Lourdes
I have to agree with Nancy and Jenny. My teen years were horrible... most of the time. I had friends at home and then we moved over an hour away from my high school when I was 15. I just somehow could not figure out who I was and was unhappy with my hair (red and curly) my skin (freckles) and my arm and my not yet developed figure. I think being a teenager for some of us is such a negative experience. I have two daughters and they are a year apart... One had the best teen years was always happy and cheerful... the other was quiet and withdrawn and did not feel comfortable until about 17. My son on the other hand love his teens. I think boys tend to be less complicated than teenage girls.

I am so glad you are coming to Camp. It will do her a world of good and you will see a change in her self-esteem. Coming to camp and meeting so many other people who share her injury will make her feel more in control and more empowered to handel many issues that she will face in the future. There are many other tbpi who will be great role models for her.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

Kath adult/obpi

Notetaking Assistance

http://edit.uaa.alaska.edu/dss/student/ ... stance.cfm

I believe this info is specific to this college (not sure), HOWEVER....it looks like it could certainly be implemented for your daughter in High School.

I glanced back to see if it was your daughters dominate hand that was injured. Since it looks like it was, I realized, NOTE TAKING, might be difficult for her to keep up with when using her left hand, especially in the beginning.

Also, if she types alot, and finds that difficult, there is now voice activated software to type for you.

I cant tell you how much I appreciate all the great advice you all have given me. I guess I just needed to be reminded that we aren't alone in this battle. I have 4 other children besides Caralyn ( she is the middle child) and I just remember how much my two older teenage daughters struggled with high school (they both graduated, yeah!) I remember them struggling with peer pressure and boyfriends (or lack of). Caralyn was never a very physically active girl she mainly enjoys hands on activities. I will check out the websites that have been provided. We are incrediblly grateful to have her with us and in much better shape than what the doctors had predicted. Hopefully someday she might get some movement in her bicep and shoulder but until then she is actually doing very well. Again thank you for the reality check.

Hi~
I was a bit older when I had my accident, senior yr (17) I was cheerleader, track and volleyball. I kept telling myself it was like a broken arm and it will heal and be fine. At that time the doctors weren't sure what was wrong. I wore a sling and carried on..........until my 1st surgery at Mayo. There they confirmed I lost c5,6,& 7. Thats when it hit. I thought no one would marry me with these scars and a dead arm. How would I hold a baby? Plus my boyfriend died a month after the accident, head injuries. Some of my friends avoided me. I had a crowd of girlfriends that were wealthy and really were consumed with their looks. I learned real quick that that was not my crowd anymore.
I did however, since college was now out, got a job at a bank! I layed my arm on the counter and (I had use of my hand) used both hands to count $. I was sore at the end of day but proud I could do it. I actually had alot of offers to dinner by some very handsome success men, which I ended up marrying and having 4 children with.
Tell you daughter there are so many ways to hide it, if she is uncomfortable. I held my hands together or crossed my arms. I would descretly lifted my arm with my other hand; hand over hand and lift. I use my leg on the counter to hold my hand up to curl my hair, put a barrett in, pony tail, etc.............
Its not the end of the world. At least it wasn't her leg or her mind.
She will be fine. All things happen for a purpose and she will have a whole new look on life now. This injury has stages. Anger and depression is the 1st and it (sadly) lasts along time. My mom and I would go out for lunch. Shop for clothes that hid my arm, which made feel so much better. We went on trips to the ocean to lay under the sun. What does she enjoy? Indulge it. Love will pull her through.
Kath in Chicago