United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Francine and Tina,

And to all other parents who's children who have recently gotten out of their splints....

Just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you and your kiddos, hoping that this process is as painless and easy going as possible. I haven't posted much lately, but I'm lurking around, keeping up on your kids! I'm glad to learn that they are all on their way to the beginnings of new possibilities!!

God Bless you parents and God Bless your children.

Sending love to you from Fargo,
Missy

Missy thank you so much for thinking about us. Maia is not doing well taking off her splint but I think it's because she got sick (I didn't know at first she wasn't feeling well because there were no symptoms yet - but then the next day it all came out). So basically Maia's splint is off for about 5 minutes a day so far - when I sponge bathe her. Hopefully when she feels better we will go forward withe spending more time with it off.

For the times we have taken it off it is evident that she cannot move her arm at all - she can move her hand and fingers but not her arm. I think she might be very upset about this because we did tell her that this surgery would make her arm stronger and here it is and it doesn't work at all. I wish I knew what the right thing to say and do was - I feel like we're just guessing at it and experimenting on what the right thing to say and do is. She hasn't wanted to even talk about it - maybe she'll allow for that soon....she' been tuning me out. This is SO different then her mod quad - I guess we didn't expect her arm not to want to move at all. Hopefully she'll want to do more this weekend.

take care Missy,
chicken pox all gone right?
-francine

Francine, that must be so scarey. I wonder why she cannot move it at all. What does Dr. Nath say? Is she just tensing up and preventing you from moving it? I hope things get better soon. -Tina

Thanks, Missy, for thinking of us. So far, things are going pretty well. I skipped the Motrin this morning when we went to the pool (to see if Nicole really needed it b/c I didn't want to keep giving it to her if she didn't) and realized that does still need it. Day #1, I didn't try to ROM her arm at all. Day #2, she let me do some PROM, but was very stiff and tight. Day #3 (today / no Motrin), she didn't let me move her arm much and told me it hurt. Back to Motrin again tomorrow. So far, she seems really glad to have the splint off. I doubt she's too happy to have the nagging therapist-Mom back though (both arms please, can you try that with your L arm too, etc. etc.). Well, thanks for thinking of us. When do you guys go to the dr. again? -Tina