United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I took Michaela today to see her orthopaedic surgeon for her usual 3 month checkup. She did Michaelas' primary surgery and is following us closely after this one because she has a few more patients who need Texas but we're the first to have gone.

She said Michaela looks great. Michaela showed her some of her new shoulder movement which I've discouraged Michaela from doing but she's so excited she can move her arm in the air and touch her head(with me still supporting of course) that it's really hard to tell her it's too much yet. Anyway the ortho was excited too! The only thing we really discussed was the splotchiness of her incisions. I had posted to Francine they had been getting redder. some days red some not. At first I just thought it was heat rash. We've started the scar massage and I'm doing it with antibiotic CREAM, not ointment. Dr. Werntz said that some people can have a reaction to that type of suture and that it will be ok and go away as they completely dissolve. The incisions are all healed well and she cut of the 2 tiny tails at each end since they were starting to curl into her skin and make a knot and would have caused an infection. She then talked to me a little about using some biofeedback on Michaela in a few months. I told her i'd research it, but right now with starting O.T. and aqua therapy and resuming e-stim we have our hands FULL! She agreed.

Michaela is so much happier at home on spring break,but needless to say I've accomplished nothing.Trying to tell myself that spending time with her is more important than housework or dishes or laundry or mail.I'm a Type A, very organized personality, and it's very hard for me to let these things go. One of the things I'm working on myself. I can always find work to do, but I stay so stressed and busy my health is suffering. Got to slow down.

Guess i've updated enough. LeeAnne

Michaela wants to say Hi! to everyone. She wants to type on the computer and I'm tryiong to tell her now is not the time.LeeAnne and Michaela ( and she typed her name herself made her happy)

You go Michaela!
Glad to see you learning keyboarding skills early.

And LeeAnne, you are so right, nothing will ever replace the time you can spend with your child. You will not regret one moment of this week spending it with her in the long run. The housework will be there for you always, the child will grow up all too soon.

Nancy

LeeAnne,

Good news on Michaela. We have been using a biofeedback machine for a while now and I love it. The one we have looks just like an e-stim, but reports the muscle activity instead of sending stimulation. It has really helped to target specific muscles and let's you see if the function is using the correct muscle or compensating else where. When the muscle is working our machine has lights and sounds that go off. We play a game to see how high she can make the lights go or how long she can keep them lite up. I was able to get insurance to pay for it, so our out of pocket was minimal. If you want any additional information on how we use it or what type, just email me.

Julie Wolfgram