United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello, I am 51 years old from Kentucky. I have BPI in myleft shoulder, arm and hand. I have very little use of any part. I have had two surgeries with little improvement. I have two children a daughter 29 and a son 33. I have a wonderful husband of 35 years. so, don't be hard on yourself you will find someone who sees beyond your disability. My mother was 39 years old when I was born and I weighted 11lbs 3ozs and a half. We live in a rual aera, there wasn't hospital close so I was delivered in a clinic. It was by Gods grace we both didn't die. I am so glad I found the board. Don't be afraid to have children. I raised mine with only the help of my husband.
May God Bless

Cristina,

I really had a hard time with relationships when I was younger too. Of course, being somewhat ogrish in appearance anyway didn't help much.
I found a wife before I found this board, but I honestly think that had I not, I may have tried to find someone that had the same problem that I do. Sometimes even now, I have to battle with feelings of inadequacy. Sometimes I feel like a freak. I don't know what to tell you other than hang in there, there are guys/gals out there who won't care, it just seems as if they are few and far between.

Before I got married I always tried to make my arm less noticeable. I have a fairly obvious elbow contracture and I would never stand with my arm hanging by my side, or anything like that. Guys never really noticed my arm until I pointed it out. My problem with dating wasn't really my arm, but that I was so shy. But I've been married for almost four years now and my husband doesn't even think about my arm. And I'm like Kath, my daughters are 14 months apart too. It's difficult with kids, but you learn to do things any way you can. You figure out ways around the problems you encounter. I wouldn't miss out on being a mommy for anything in the world!

FYI..Future MOMS,
There is quite a long Topic Thread Discussion on being/How to Be a MOM with a BPI somewhere in 2006, so put that year in the "Search Forum" Information Box to locate it...I'll try to Bump them up, but it dosesn't always work for me...LOL.

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/68