Making Splint Comments Positive
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2002 12:21 am
I might have posted a message about this in the past, not sure, so forgive the repetition for those who may have read this before. It came to my mind again tonight when I was reading LeeAnne's note about all the arm comments that happen esp. with a post-surgical splint on. Well, I recently learned a lot about what was going on with the "public" and discovered a way to turn the comments into non-arm remarks (for the most part anyway). I used some iron-on patches and fabric paints to decorate Nicole's post-Caps splint. TCH gave us two sets of straps and pads, so I decorated the extra arm strap and the few straps that go in the front of the splint. Nicole also wore a pretty bracelet on her splinted arm sometimes (thoughtful gift from a friend 
)). Anyway, when we were out in public this time, so many people commented on the painted rainbow or the flowers or the pretty bracelet or on her name that I'd printed across the hand strap, etc. It was such an amazing turnaround. Nicole had worn the SOL splint less than a year prior and I remembered all the many comments and questions. I had printed some UBPN Awareness BPI Info. cards and also made a back side with a few splint Q&As -- prepared to hand them out to all the inquiring people. I figured I'd turn the ?s into a positive awareness info. opportunity. Well, we hardly had any ?s this time or "awww, poor thing," sympathy comments. Instead, most people just had the positive comments about the splint decorations. I was pleasantly surprised b/c I hadn't decorated the splint for that purpose. I only did it for Nicole so that she'd have something pretty to look at for this long period of time. So, we got an added bonus! I found that the splint is so big and apparent that people cannot miss it, so they feel compelled to say something about it. Well, if you can give them a nice visual to comment about, I think it makes for a more positive experience for everyone involved.
Anyway, I highly recommend doing something like this, at least to the top part of the arm strap that will be seen even with long sleeves. The fabric paints have to dry for 24-48 hours, but I know that Francine used some other stuff that dries more quickly and she was able to use it while the splint was on Maia (Elmer's sparkly glue?? or something like that). I hope this experience helps.
-Tina)
)). Anyway, when we were out in public this time, so many people commented on the painted rainbow or the flowers or the pretty bracelet or on her name that I'd printed across the hand strap, etc. It was such an amazing turnaround. Nicole had worn the SOL splint less than a year prior and I remembered all the many comments and questions. I had printed some UBPN Awareness BPI Info. cards and also made a back side with a few splint Q&As -- prepared to hand them out to all the inquiring people. I figured I'd turn the ?s into a positive awareness info. opportunity. Well, we hardly had any ?s this time or "awww, poor thing," sympathy comments. Instead, most people just had the positive comments about the splint decorations. I was pleasantly surprised b/c I hadn't decorated the splint for that purpose. I only did it for Nicole so that she'd have something pretty to look at for this long period of time. So, we got an added bonus! I found that the splint is so big and apparent that people cannot miss it, so they feel compelled to say something about it. Well, if you can give them a nice visual to comment about, I think it makes for a more positive experience for everyone involved.Anyway, I highly recommend doing something like this, at least to the top part of the arm strap that will be seen even with long sleeves. The fabric paints have to dry for 24-48 hours, but I know that Francine used some other stuff that dries more quickly and she was able to use it while the splint was on Maia (Elmer's sparkly glue?? or something like that). I hope this experience helps.
-Tina
)