United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Today I was at my OT clinical internship where one of my patients was ROBPI. I noticed her when she first started coming to the rehab gym. I could tell she had BPI because its pretty severe.
Today I treated her and asked her if they gave her a name for what was wrong with her arm(in her chart she called it a congenital birth injury that left her right arm paralyzed). She said it was a brachial plexus injury.
We talked about it while I was working with her. She said she was a nurse for years and has always found a way to get along.
This is the 1st time in my 27 years I met someone with OBPI si its kinda neat. Just thought I's share.
Becky

Very cool! I have met 2 others with BPI, but briefly, we were all in PT at the Shriners. I would love to meet you all!
Hope to see you at Camp 2007!
Marieke (31, LOBPI)
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com/

Becky, you should really consider coming to camp, its amazing! Meeting some one else makes you not feel so alone, like your not the only one (even though we all know we are not the only one) its just more real when you meet people face to face.

I hope you are able to stay in contact with her!
Hugs,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN

the first time i met someone else with OBPI i think i was like 10, i was in physical therepy, and i had had my operation a year prior. it was another child, half my age, and we would have our sessions together at Hasbro. I thought it was cool. Im 19 now, a junior at WNEC, and nobody understands it. I just basically use it as a way to make people laugh. I guess its the only way I've found to cope with the laughing people, make them laugh with me instead of at me.

MEL (19)

I've never met another person with a BPI. But it's nice to know there are others out there.

I was so overjoyed when I met other OBPI/adults.
The first time I met other OBPI's they were all children and I found it so hard.
I knew all of the many things they would have to overcome and their struggles.
I found it very emotional, I cried the entire weekend after the picnic.
I realized that it was still happening and it was not rare!

A few months later I met with three adult/obpi and two adult/tbpi in Fla.
I cannot even express how happy I was to talk to people who understood and shared so many common experiences.
After that meeting in Fla. I was encouraged to go to Camp and I knew that was crazy!
I would not fit in and I could not imagine how a camp experience could possibly help me.
By the time Camp was organized and planned I was on the Board of Directors of UBPN and felt obliged to attend.
I was sure Camp would be a big bust for me and wondered how my husband would fit in.
Well, needless to say, we had a GREAT time!
I enjoyed it more than I could ever imagine.
My husband enjoyed it and come home with a new understand of my injury.
BTW we really never spoke about my arm.
He knew about it but did not see it as a big deal.
He had no idea how much it bothered me or how limited I am and knew nothing about the pain.
I learned a long time ago not to complain because no one could understand what I was describing.

Our camp experience was great.
My camp experience brought new insight into my injury for me and was so healing.
I have made so many friends through camp and met so many great families that I can't wait for Camp 2007 in WA.

I would encourage anyone and especially adults who have never met another bpi injured person to attend.
You will be amazed at how comforting it is to hang out with others who truly walk in your shoes... or should I say wear your jackets.

Kath Adult/robpi