United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello, my name is Bridget, I am mom to Ian, age 8. Ian has a LOBPI. We live in Phoenix, Arizona (Ian was born in Nebraska). Ian loves to play baseball, swim, play tennis, run around, READ, write stories and poems, watch cartoon network and sometimes bake cookies with his mom. He loves his pets (two aquariums, 3 cats, 1 fuzzy dog) and school.

I'm the editor of Outreach, a publication I started seven years ago when I was very very alone and found out that there actually were other people out there with this injury...that has led to lots of advocacy and a role as a founding member of UBPN...I am currently the Vice President of UBPN. I am also active in our local support group which is growing at an alarming rate I am sad to say.

I'm happy to see all of us introducing ourselves and reaffirming our role as "family" ... hope to meet ALL of you in person someday!

Bridget

Hi my name is Dylecia, and I am new to this board I really love it. My daughter Keiarra is 2 years old . She was born August 10, 1999. She has LOBPI, no surgeries to date. She loves to play outside and she is also a very active little girl... doesn't let anything slow her down not even her injury. I also have a 7 year old son named Kevion he is non BPI. They are both the sunshine in my life and the joy to my heart. Bless all our angels!!!

Dylecia

Hello my name is Dana and I have a daughter, Sabrina 2, with LOBPI. She had primary surgery at 6 months with Dr. Grossman in Miami, who is a wonderful man. She is doing very well although she has limited ROM. She is a very happy and also very outgoing. This injury hasn't stopped her from doing anything. I love her so much, she is the light of my life. Sometimes I think she was born just to make me laugh. Glad to meet you all.
Dana

My son Nicholas is 16 months old (ROBPI) and has had 3 surgeries so far and all done at TCH. We live in Independence KY which is just about 20 minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Nicholas has 2 older sisters who adore him and spoil him rotten of course. He has such personality and is just a little sweetie pie. He loves to make us laugh by making funny faces and such. He loves Barney and Teletubbies, thank goodness because otherwise he wouldn't tolerate me doing his ROM!! We will be starting estim next week to build his muscles, wish us luck. I wonder if videos will work for that? We will find out! He has OT, PT, Speech (feeding issues) and Aqua therapies, that is where he moves his arm the most! We love the water!

I'm Allison, mother of two, a 3 yr old daughter named Kalista, and my little prince Bradley 3 months who has a robpi. We live in Allentown,PA. Remember the Billy Joel tune? Today Bradley got fitted for a right arm splint and a left hand splint. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm looking frwd to meeting everyone in Ohio!!

Hi, My name is Mandie, my daughter is Sarah, 2 1/2 mths old, with right OBPI. We make our first trip to the Neu. on May 15th and we have no clue what to expect. Sarah had no movement after her birth but showed improvment almost imediatly. She has been to her PT three times so far and these past three weeks have been incredible!!! We noticed that while sleeping...she would move her right arm the same as the left... Then two days later...she was moving it during the day...she lifts it straight above her head and puts it in her mouth also!!!

Yesterday she lifted it to her chest while sitting on my lap. The slightest movement brings tears to Daddy's and my eyes!

Sarah was 9 lbs 5.6 oz and born at 40 weeks....(induced) We also have Colleen,4 lbs 13 oz at birth..39 weeks, who is 6 1/2 and she is a big help!! Having Sarah is such a blessing! She was worth every bit of the pain!

Feel free to email me and please let me know if you live in Louisiana.....So far i havent met anyone in my area.


Good Luck To All...

Mandie

Allison,
Hi I'm Cindy. I'm currently in the Pocono's and hopefully withing the next year will be moving to New Ringgold. I'm also in the beginnings of starting a support group. We'll also be going to the Ohio picnic. If you want to chat feel free to email me at cpfranklin@psualum.com
Cindy
Mom to Melanie (2 1/2)and Matthew (1)(both rbpi)

Hi, I am Claudia. My daughter, Juliana is LOBPI and 2.5 years old. She is our fourth child, and the icing on the cake. She is blissfully unaware that she has any limitations!! She has had 3 surgeries at TCH: primary at 4.5 months, modquad at 14 months and biceps lenghtening this past April. She was ruptured at c5,6, and avulsed at c7. She is quite a number!!! She is very loved. Her older siblings run for her, before me, when they get home from school!!! We are so glad we found this board...

Hi, my name is Crystal, mother to Blake age 4.5who has a ROBPI. Blake weighed 11lb 8oz, 22 1/2 inches long. He has had primary at age 8mo(ruptured C5,C6,avulsed C7 and nueroma on C8), mod quad at age 2, and most recently capsulodesis and bicep lengthening. He tries and succeeds at doing pretty much anything, super outgoing, and the apple of my eye. He has a little sister, Bailey 18months(c-section) and is a great big brother, growing up to be quite the little man. He likes to ride his bike, a big superman and spiderman fan, and is beginning t-ball next week.

Gosh I can't beleive I forgot to post on here. It has been a hectic winter and early spring. My name is Christy, my husband (such a dear, patient and wonderful man) is Bob. We have a son who has two children and a daughter (Kim) who has a daughter. Which brings us to Katie, rOBPI, who has had three surgeries and is doing really well. Like most of the kids on here she doesn't know she has limitations. We live in WV and look forward to meeting those at the Ohio picnic.