Carolyn, this one's for you...

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
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hope16_05
Posts: 1670
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:33 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 28 years old with a right obstetrical brachial plexus injury. 5 surgeries to date with pretty decent results. Last surgery resolved years of pain in my right arm however, I am beginning my journey with overuse in my left arm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by hope16_05 »

Well and every one else too but Carolyn seems to need it the most right now,

Every day bpi stuff, I am mastering putting my hair up with out having to lay down! I get it the majority of the time now. I use a wall and mirror and a comb afterward to comb out the bumps. Its so exciting!!!
Sorry I havent posted more recently, school has me swamped and when I am not at school, I am at home playing with my 6 week old nephew. He is one killer strengthening program for my arm! Such a cutie though.

Hope all is well with every one else!!!
Big Hugs,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN
Amy 28 years old ROBPI from MN
mom2peyton
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 1:53 pm

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by mom2peyton »

I have not been an active poster in the past, but have gained a lot of comfort from reading from others. I decided it was time for me to share as well....

Last Sunday, My daughter Peyton (who will be 7 in January) competed in her first gymnastics tournament. It was a 2 hour drive to the competition, and the whole way there I kept thinking to my self "what am I doing? is she even going to be able to compete close to the level of the other girls? is this going to be devastating to her if things go badly?" needless to say it was a long 2 hour drive.
her coach had already decreased her to a lower level in the competition as she wasn't able to do the skills at the tougher level without her BPI arm ending up doing something that would cause her to lose all her points.

Well, she did her practice tumbling passes and did a wonderful job. But, when it came time for the actual competition, she started her tumbling routine, then sat down and stopped in the middle of it and looked to her coach for what to do next.....the excitement of the competition got to her. She ended up placing 5th out of 7 girls.
Even though I felt guilty thinking it. Boy, was I glad that it was just a mistake any 6 year old girl at her first competition would make, and not that her arm got in the way.
So, as tough as it was on me, she came away from that knowing that she has the potential to succeed and she says next time she is going to do her whole tumbling routine without stopping and get a bigger trophy!!!
ptrefam
Posts: 674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:19 pm

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by ptrefam »

Congratulations to her!!! Job well done!! May she do better and better.
Sue
Kath
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Location: New York

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by Kath »

Yeah for Peyton!
I am so happy it was not her arm.
She'll do better next time but at least she tries.
I can't believe she is 7.
I remember when you posted more often and love hearing how well the children are doing as they grow up.

Kath (adult/robpi)
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
User avatar
marieke
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:00 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI
no external rotation against gravity, can only go to 90 degree fwd flexion, no hand-to-mouth
1 surgery at age 14 (latissimus dorsi transfer). In 2004, at age 28 I was struck with Transverse Myelitis which paralyzed me from the chest down. I recovered movement to my right leg, but need a KAFO to walk on my left leg. I became an RN in 2008.
Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada
Contact:

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by marieke »

Woohoo Payton!
Good for her! And yes, that is a typical 6 year old mistake at a competition, LOL. Reminds me of a little girl that was at my figure skating club. RIght in the middle of her solo routine she all of a sudden she forgot what she was doing, and skated by where her coach was standing and shrugged in a "I-don't-know-what-is-next". It was cute and she still managed 3rd place! Hehe, too cute.
Marieke
Marieke Dufresne RN
34, LOBPI
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by Carolyn J »

HOOORRAY,Peyton!!! Thanks Mom for sharing. Exactly the boost I needed ...AND AMY, you are awesome doing your pony tail without hanging upside-down on your bed anymore! I always thought how tiring that was for you to do...fyi, whenever I did ponytails myself I always had to have somebody re-do it for me when I got to school it was m-e-s-s-y!.In college I kept my hair in a very short shag cut& I hated it because I wanted curls. Perms were horrid back in the 50's!

Thanks you guys for making my day! :) :)

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI, 68 & proud of it!
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
parent needing help
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:16 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 03/28/2000 OBPI. rc5-6 rupture, rc7-8 avulsion rt1 stretch. L humeral fx lc7 stretch
Location: Huntington, West Virginia

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by parent needing help »

carolyn

I have been a poster and a lurker here for about 6 and a half years now. I recall those first few years (and sometimes even now) of despair and worry and HELP I need answers. But take it into consideration when everyday life takes precedence on the this board it means HOPE for our little children. Soon they will be posting like Hope or the other teens. Before this baord and those kids posting I could see nothing like that in my gal's future. So while you still need answers, let it make you feel a little better that soon our kids will be playing ball, doing ballet, band, etc.

And SMILE!!! We are strong and can get through anything now!
Christy & Katie Chapman
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Carolyn, this one's for you...

Post by Carolyn J »

YEEESSS "Parent...",
We BPI-ERS ARE VERY T-o-u-g-h!!!
You are going to be amazed at what "your girl" can do AND accomplish!! We all are fighters & "prove-ers wrong" of all the "nay-sayers" that come around us.

Please come back more often, & lurk less. I learn sooo much from every message posted here on all the Boards.

Hugs are great!, :)
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI,68 & proud of it!
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
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