United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi All!!
Our local paper called this morning and wants to do an article on Logan's injury. We are so excited, my husband and I both teared up a little. Have any of you done an article- and what did you say?? There is soooo much to say, there isn't enough time in the world to describe what we have been through... How we educated ourselves through the internet... how sad we were/the feelings we went through as new parents...How scared we were handing our baby over to go to surgery...
I could really use all of your input so that I can really focus on what we need to. Tell me what you would like to hear if you knew nothing of this injury.

Thanks guys!!
Natalie

I encourge you to use extreme caution. I was warned that it could damage A civil case. I dont think you can mention doctors or hospitals. Check into to it first!

No, I don't have any desire to focus on anything related with Logan's birth injury and the law, physicians, or law suits. This is about Logan and her injury. She is 8 1/2 now, we are way past that and have dealt with that part. Nothing can change our past. We just want this to be about the injury and how Logan is doing.

Thanks.

I would want to know that the injury is preventable with the proper handling of an obstetric complication called Shoulder Dystocia, and that SD can be reduced with proper maternal positioning.

I would want to know that it is not really uncommon (more common than downs and equally as prevelant as cerebral palsy).

I would want to know thatthere are many others out there for support.

I would want to know that there are things that MUST be done after an injury occurs, like PT/OT, stimilation of the limb and stretching.

I would want to know that there are such things as early intervention to get help with these services.

I would like to know that auquatic therpapy is a great intervention.

I would want to know that there are experts in this field throughout the country

I would want to know about UBPN

I would like to know that things do get better, and that the children with this injury are resiliant, stroong and independent.

I would want to know that yes these injuries can be permanent, but there are options towards recovery.

There is so much to know, but it is great that you have an opportunity to get some info out there!

-good luck

-richinma

Well done Rich.

Good points Rich. I'll add my take on this topic:

This injury requires:

unconditional love and patience from family and friends.

sacrifices of time, effort, and money to ensure the child achieves the maximum possible recovery. This may mean unintended sacrifices for other family members.

the child be treated as any other family member, with love and respect without undue attention to the injury.

encouragement to participate in activities that may be physically challenging knowing that the ultimate decision to participate rests with the child.

attention to education and training that will enable the child to live a productive life.

dealing with an emotional roller coaster for the child and parents.

learning to cope with the injury. How well the child copes will be influenced by how well the family does.

John P.
(ROBPI for 67 years)

I would add:
that it is a life-long injury

that it is life-altering

that it can effect the way a child learns and deals with the world, as there are so many sensory issues involved

that we would go back and do it all again, even with the same outcome, because we are all better and stronger for the experience and because we love our child

good luck,
claudia


Message was edited by: claudia

I think it is important to let people know it is not "just the arm."
There is pain with this injury.
Many of us develop a high pain threshold.
That is not good because we tend to ignore important pain signals and do not seek immediate care.
I recently had a doctor tell me where the brachial plexus is and how it had no effect on my gait.
This is not true because when you have a shoulder issue you body is out of balance and so is your gait.
Thank goodness my Chiropractor explained exactly how gait and shoulder are connected.
It is a cradle to grave injury.
There are many secondary issues as a result of this injury.

I believe the many challenges, I faced, with this injury made me who I am and a strong person.
Good Luck
Kath adult/robpi

YOU GUYS DID A AWESOME JOB WITH THAT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE DONE A FEW ARTICLES IN OUR LOCAL PAPER,LOCAL TV AND RADIO. YOU REALLY DO GET SO OVERWHELMED THAT WHEN YOU GO BACK AND WATCH,LISTEN,OR READ YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DIDNT GET ENOUGH IN.I HAVE ALOT OF SUPPORT FROM MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HELPS ALOT. I HAVE HAD A FEW FUNDRAISERS IN OUR TOWN AND OUR LOCAL MEDIA HAD TO HAVE THE STORY. THEY ALSO DID A FEW FOLLOW STORIES. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU CAN TELL THEM EVERYTHING YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW BUT THEY WILL ONLY PUT WHAT THEY WANT IN THE PAPER. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK!!!!!!! KATHY

Oh my gosh, thanks so much you guys! Even after 8 1/2 years of this injury and all that we have been through, I still got goosebumps going up and down my legs and arms and tears in my eyes reading your posts... sometimes it's like an old wound, isn't it? I haven't been on this website for roughly 4 years and it's heartbreaking to realize this damn injury continues to our children.
I can honestly say, I don't know if I would do it all again... I thought, WOW, there's a strong person... But, my daughter has perservered, proven us all wrong. Logan said she wants to do the article but said "don't make me look like a broken baby doll, mom"- ha, I said, is that what you think you are? She said, "No, I'm just me, and it's not something I think about". Kids are amazing. I can honestly say looking back, that when she was first born, we thought, Ohhh, she'll never crawl (well, now she competitively dances), she'll never be able to hold onto her own newborn baby (hello, she throws her sister around with both arms!), she'll be made fun of (she's popular, smart, and very involved with activities). We cried over things that never happened and never will. We wasted a lot of energy and dealt with too much pain. They prove us wrong, thank the Lord. But as a new parent, you are just so shocked and feel like all your thoughts and dreams about how your baby will be (prior to the injury) are ended. Nahhh!!! I wish I could give a ((((hug)))) to all you new parents, but I can't, so I want to give you hope, HOPE! I have been where you are, and now we are 8 years out and I can honestly look back and say, "It does get better, you do go on, your child will perservere and be someone very special who will teach others that you don't have to be perfect to be wonderful!". There will be a day, a week, a month, where you haven't thought about the injury!! And that is freedom. I had a lot of hate, we lost our lawsuit, our child never got what she deserved, our doctor lied on the stand and walked away looking like the better man, still practicing (and I work at the same hospital as he does!!- imagine!!) and no punishment. Well, we got through that, too. I could just go on and on... just keep your chin up everyone!! And if you ever need a pick-me-up, let me know, I had a lot of people on here do that for me 6-8 years ago... and now it's the least I could do.
I am going to print off what all of you posted- it was so GOOOOOODDDD!!! Thanks again!!!