United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I just saw your number on your jersey Drake, and I am now certain that you will be a soccer star!!! That's my number too. If I had on a uniform of any kind that number was on my back. I hope my info will help you along in your journey friend. I hope you guys plan on coming to camp in '09 too. We can play some soccer and baseball at the sports clinic.



Joe Alsbury

WOW! He is right in the middle of it and looks like nothing is going to hold him back.

Way to go Drake!

Thanks for sharing these photos he is a cutie.

Kath robpi/adult

Where do i find these slings?

Good for Drake! I can see he is right in the middle of things.

The photos are great too. Thanks for sharing.

It always brightens my day to see 'our' kids not letting their injury hold them back.

Nancy

Juliana can't pump her affected arm either. She holds it straight out (fully extended) when she runs. She has (had) balance issues, but they are really more obvious when she is walking than running (go figure). She is pretty quick too.

Sports are a great equalizer and can be a huge esteem booster. Go for it!

claudia

Drake looks great! and has no fear as he IS in the middle of the action. Good for him!! Joe and Amy are the most knowledgeable people I know about all sports stuff with a BPI. Marieke too. Nothing has stopped them. I hope that Drake can assist you in asking any "How Too' questions he may have to those 3 "Adults with..." who play any sport they can,any time. At Camp it was soo inspiring to see Marieke and JudyT climb the rock wall and Judy did the Zipline too.

Please keep us posted on Drake's sports & keep posting pictures.

HUGS,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/69

OK--feeling very guilty. I told my 10 year old son he could NOT play football this year because of his LBPI. Well he is very upset because all his friends are on the team and he is not. I wanted to protect him, but I think I just isolated him. Has anyone have any input about football, or anyone ever played as a child?? He does play spring baseball and loves it. Input please...

I agree with Joe that you should let your kids try a sport they are interrested in.
I do, however, sympathize with you about football.
I told my son he absolutely couldn't play football last year (but so did his doctor) and it was not BPI related. I also swayed him to stick with soccer instead of trying to do both now or give up soccer.
I know he still plays at school outside and at other times when he gets together with his friends.
he also informed me that our high school has a rugby team!
Talk to the coach and see if Josh still might be able to get on the team.

I sympathize too about football. I told my son he couldn't participate either. He has a few friends on the team (including his best friend), but I told him no. He is not yet 1 year out from having titrated off epilepsy meds... there was no way he was going to bounce off people!

Interestingly, kids get over stuff like that. Is there "fall ball" in your area? We have a bunch of baseball nuts (heheh) who play in the fall and the spring. My son picked cross country.

claudia

For those who don't follow professional football or haven't heard...just last week an NFL player sustained a severe spinal cord injury and may be paralyzed for life. Even without a BPI injury it is a dangerous sport, in fact I've heard about a few athletes that say they get "stingers" that would be similar to a TBPI. I think its prudent to protect Josh...maybe there is a compromise..flag football or some form of non-contact??? Does he have any interest is being the punter?