United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

my mother doesnt believe that the doctor caused my injury, she always told me she did the best she do,and did therapy with me. she as went as far to say that my arm wasnt shorter, i clearly have pictures when im 4yrs old with elbow contracture. The doctors never told her what was wrong with my arm, just send me to therapy. My mom has a language barrier and no help when i was born in 1972. It was really easy for the doctors to hide the medical malpractice. its been a painfull journey for me and my mom

I received my injury from a traumatic birth. During the entire delivery, my mom said she knew something was wrong. When the doctor held me up, my right arm was floppy and unresponsive. My parents were young, just starting a family, and they had no idea what to do. They knew there was something wrong with my right side, I was bruised head to toe from the trauma of delivery, and I couldn't move my right arm. My parents started to seek a diagnosis, and when I was 2 weeks old I was diagnosed with a BPI to my right side. Immediately after the diagnosis, my parents sought out a physical therapist to work with me.

I don't know all the details about how my parents afforded it, but I know I was always involved in physical therapy. When I started preschool, my parents put me in a preschool that viewed my BPI as a disability, therefore providing me with a physical therapist, occupational therapist, and a speech therapist (due to damage to my vocal cords presumed to be related to the nerve damage). Honestly, I have no idea how my parents paid for the physical therapy, or found insurance coverage. I know my dad's job always gave us health insurance. I don't know how much they paid out of pocket for the doctors visits or the therapy, but I'm sure insurance didn't cover everything. I just know that they made it a priority, and if over the years, other things had to give because of my medical expenses, they never said anything.

Throughout my life, my parents have been an advocate for me and have clearly done everything in their power, actually going above and beyond, to provide me with the therapy, doctors, and attention I needed to help me adapt to life with a BPI. They took me to see specialists at the Milwaukee Childrens Hospital, University of Michigan, the Children's Hospital in Detroit, etc. As I got older, my parents encouraged me to be involved in athletics, and never once did they tell me I couldn't do it because of my arm. They explained my injury to me as I got older, and allowed me to make decisions based on treatment, surgeries, etc. It was never their decision if I would have a surgery, it was always mine (because surgery only became an option when I was about 10).

I think that my parents dealt with it as best, if not better, than they possibly could. I think they turned to religious views to get through it, by viewing it as a trial from God (not trying to sound preachy...). I think that when I was a baby, they were scared about what the future would hold for me. I think deep down, they are worried about my injury and the impact it will have on my life forever, but never once have they really voiced their fears to me. If anything, they were as supportive as they could be. I think deep down, my mom feels a little bit of guilt because of the traumatic delivery, and that she could have prevented my injury if she had been more assertive to the doctor. My parents also sough legal help and pressed charges against the doctor because of the delivery and his actions.

All in all, I am so lucky that my parents dealt with my injury the way they did. I know that I am better off with coping with my injury because of their attitudes toward it.

cnmoffitt413,

God Bless Your Parents !
Carolyn J
LOBPI/72

Thank you, Carolyn!

I hope I didn't come off sounding like I was bragging about my parents! I truly do know how lucky I am for them, and I am so grateful for everything they did over the years! And I give them credit for so much of my personal success with dealing with my arm, because I would not have been able to adapt to life with a BPI if it wasn't for them.

cnmoffitt413, if i had parents like that, i would brag on them too. it is very nice to hear about wonderful people like them. keep bragging on them

cnmoffitt413,
It is not bragging, friend! Your parents deserve all the Praise and Gratitude we all can give to them. We need to
Celebrate them. That's why I say the importance of coming together periodically at UBPN Family Inter-generational Camps such as the next 1 in 2012. Parents and grandparents recieve alot from attending too. Camp is Life-Changing!
Keep On Keepin' On!
Carolyn J
LOPBI/72

cnmoffitt413,
It is not bragging, friend! Your parents deserve all the Praise and Gratitude we all can give to them. We need to
Celebrate them. That's why I say the importance of coming together periodically at UBPN Family Inter-generational Camps such as the next 1 in 2012. Parents and grandparents recieve alot from attending too. Camp is Life-Changing!
Keep On Keepin' On!
Carolyn J
LOPBI/72