United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have a daughter who will be 2 at the end of March. I was told that she is doing very well with your left bpi. She is able to raise arm to a 90* angle (shoulder level) and she not able to weight bare though. She has never had any surgery's. Just has OT 1x a wk. What else can I be doing? I read these other post of children who are 18 yrs old and even older and it makes me want to cry. I feel I should be doing more for her. Any advice would be helpful! I am so afraid of having another child. My first was a premie and my second has a lbpi. It makes me scared for her. What is life going to be like for her in the future? Will she marry and have children? Oh please help? Thank you for letting me vent.

Let me reassure you that we grow up to have full happy lives. Hey obpi's let's do a roll call of our own and tell this mom our vitals.

I'm Nancy, I'm 48, lobpi, mother to a dear son, grandmother to two sweet boys, happily married to Tim for almost 29 years. I'm on the faculty at Kent State where I hold the position of Curator and University Archivist in our research library.

I think you will find that because of our injury we all have some shared characteristics. We have a highly developed sense of humor, we don't take ourselves too seriously, we are stubborn people who don't let adversity stand in our way, and we are very sensitive to people with differences. I am grateful for this injury because it has made me the person I am.

Nancy

Yes Nancy...

I hear and obey... that would shock my husband!!! LOL

Hi
I am 62 right OBPI
I have been married for 36 years I have three children and 4 of the cutiest grandchildren (ask me)...LOL
I worked in Manhatten for ten years in both the Purchasing dept. and the Accounting dept. While my
children were young I started to work at home on the Apple computer..before it was fashionable... I started in 1980 to pilot a programs for special labels and then payroll and assorted projects... Sending in the Apple Disks... no internet then... and word was a real challenge...
I did the PTA, girl scouts, taught CCD, woman's club... etc... just one big normal life.
I had to show my husband my arm... he really did not notice.... just proves LOVE is blind...

I have managed to do things just because I had to see if I could... I think I have a good sense of humor... well at least I think I'm funny. I have been blessed with a great circle of friends that have been more than my family over the past 40 years.... and I was blessed to find this web site and lots of great bpi friends who like me have so much to learn about the injury we lived with all of our lives....

BPI babies are strong, stubbron,persistent and creative.... I think being bpi changed many things for me... If I had not been challenged to do the ordinary I don't think I would have explored so many hobbies. I look at every project and every craft and never wonder do I want to do it! .... I just have to do it.... I realize now everything I see I try just to see if I can do it! This has resulted in so many creative avenues for me.

Life with bpi baby is different... but it is also an adventure.... the stubbron part...LOL...
Kath

Hey,
I'm Carrie, I'm 20, right OBPI, amazingly intelligent, hard working and funny. Relax and let your daughter grow, don't worry so much about whether your two year old will get married or have kids. Maybe she won't want to! Check out orthopedists in your area, if you can't fibd BPI specialists or neurologists. Look on www.injurednewborn.com for support groups and try posting over on the general board, theres lots of parents with kids your daughter's age. Please don't worry about her having a full life. She is a whole person.
Carrie

We have something in common. My first was a premie, and now I have a 5 week old son with rbpi. I feel your hurt, but have learned that lifes obsticals will only make you stronger. Enjoy what you have been given. My son is undergoing PT 1x week. We are doing the best we can. No matter what the outcome, he won't be loved any less.
Take care and be happy
Allison

I have two children with ropbi. My daughter Melanie is 2 1/2 and recovered at 6 weeks. My son is turning a year old Saturday. His injury was so severe it involved phrenic nerve damage. He had to be in the hospital the first month of his life. He had primary surgery at Texas Children's in October. We currently have him involved in a few different types of treatment and if you would like any more information on any of them please let me know. He has physical therapy twice a week, occupational once a week, acupuncutre once a week, and chiropractic combined with reiki energy treatments twice a week (soon to be once a week). If a doc tells you it won't happen again my family is living proof that it can. My daughter was 8lbs 6oz full term. My son was 10lbs 6oz two weeks early (induced I was told he would be no larger that 8lbs a couple of days before I was induced) Hope this helps.
Cindy

Thanks Ladies, You have all been a huge help. The encourageing words. Really helps. I had never heard of BPI intell it happened to Hannah. And nobody ever knows about these thing until it happens to them.

Sometimes it's mind boggling to watch my daughter try to do things and get so irritated and cry. This is such a good place to vent some of my frautrations. And people truely understand what I am feeling. I wish I would have found this site 2 yrs ago.

I have designed a shirt that my daughter. She wears it 4 hrs a day that restrains her right arm (the good one) which will help the LBPI arm get more use. If interested in learning more about this let me know via email or here
nicki@g2a.net

Hi, I'm Judy and am from Florida.
40 years old, hey i can say that for another week.
I am married (17 years). I have a 9 year old daughter.
I graduated college and now I stay home and sometimes substitute teach . I think I may have a warped sense of humor.Do I Kath? Your children will know their own limits. Never hold them back. Let them try what ever they want.I am grateful that my mom let me try things. I played basketball and softball.

Yes Judy...you do!!!! LOL....

Some of your jokes make me jump!!!! LOL...

Kath

Hey. sorry this reply is like really late but iv just l8ly discovered this site.

I am 16years old and i have a great life and i have a right erb arm. My mum was upset because i would not be able to do gymnastics, hand stands or use skipping ropes(but i can now). OK she was rite about the hand stands and the gymnastics but hey i am very talented in other areas! i am able to dance and i play the Trumpet and i also play the piano. the piano is hard because i do not have a lot of movement but iv been encouraged to continue playin and i did and now nothin stops me.

i cant really say stop worryin about your daughter because i do not have a daughter to compare feelings but i am a daughter myself and my mum helped me for a while with excercises and such but now i do my own thing and its good.

One thing i do remember and it was so rewardin was...play a wheelbarrow with your daughter. start on flat ground but gradually make it harder for her. my mum made it that every1 night(after i got the hang of it on the floor)she would make a wheel barrow with me and walk to up the stairs to my bed. I used to make 2 or 3 stairs at 1st but then i done more and more until i reached the top of the stairs and i was really pleased with myself. it also helped the movement in my arm a lot aswell. u should try that.

Good luck

Michelle