recent traumatic bpi - need help and advice

[EllenB]

Hi Judy,

Sorry it took me a couple days to see your post. I don't check in as much as I used to, now that John is away at college. I can sure appreciate your frustration, though.

John was good about doing his daily therapy for the first couple years (and he also went to PT & OT for most of that time too). But right about when the nerve had grown out to the deltoid, he refused to do any more therapy. He said by that point, he'd gotten used to the function he had & didn't want to work any more for additional function. I was really frustrated with him because from what I understand, having a stronger deltoid will help when John's older & might develop back pain from compensating over the years.

I know about Kyle Maynard & saw a video of him wrestling a couple years ago. I was so impressed with him! His mother was also interviewed and she said they made a point of never helping him - that instead they expected him to figure out a way to do things independently. The "can do" spirit that he developed from that has and will take him far in life. Very inspirational story.

How old is David? I'm sorry but I forgot. It sounds like he is a good bit younger than John, which really makes for a challenge - because one thing about this injury is that recovery takes a lllooooooooonnnggg time. It's so hard for people to be patient, and hang in there with the therapy that's required for recovery.

I'm glad you're in counseling. I did the same - John's accident coincided with me being laid off work, and I suffered from a lot of depression along the way. It was awful to see him in so much pain, as well as the loss of function. After several years, it got where John was used to the way things are & couldn't remember very well what his life had been like before the accident. He had a little bit of counseling but then rebelled against it. I think he'd benefit from some more but it has to be his idea at this point (he's almost 21).

I'm glad you're going back to Mayo next month. Tell the gang 'hi' from Atlanta, and hopefully they can help with the psychological as well as the physical part of healing.

Take care,

Ellen

[JudyC]

Ellen David is now 13 and full of it. He did get his first deer in December and he is very proud of himself as I am very proud of him... Judy