United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

It was one of those moment we all dread.
It was a beautiful day and I was overjoyed because my granddaughter asked me to be her Sponsor for Confirmation.
We did not practice but the children were all prepared for the ceremony and of course the religions meaning of it.
The teachers were getting us ready to proceed to the church and giving us instructions regarding the ceremony.
I was so happy and excited for Jessica.
Then the unthinkable happened, the words I always dread came out of the teachers mouth
" when you present your Candidate to the Bishop, place your right hand on his/her shoulder"
That statement threw me in to a tizzy.
How am I going to do it without people noticing?
I am up on the alter in a packed church.
How fast can I get my arm up on her shoulder without anyone knowing?
My joy soon became stress,anxiety and apprehension once again this thing comes back to haunt me!
Can I do it, why is always the same old story... raise your right hand, use your right hand etc.,?
So many times this happens and I just say I am left handed without explaining why....

Hmmm now what?

As soon as I entered the church I realized it did not matter if anyone noticed!
What mattered is that my granddaughter choose me to be part of her very special day...
She never even thought of my arm or perhaps I could not put my arm up.
My arm is not important to her.... I AM!

Once again I realize I was stressing myself for no reason.
I put my arm on her shoulder before we left the pew and took it off to shake hand with the Bishop after she presented her Nana as her Sponsor!

It's amazing how we stress ourselves even when we think we are long past being self conscience about our arms...

A lesson learned...
I am who I am,
I am no different than anyone else.
We can always find a way to stress our selves bpi or not.
The key is not to let ourselves be trapped by our fears.

No one noticed and most people after church were commenting how sweet it was that she choose me.
I am sure no one noticed how awkward my movements were nor were they looking at that.
They were looking at how lucky I was....

Just want to share my fearful moment with a happy ending with all my bpi friends.

Kath robpi/adult/67

God Bless YOU AND JESSICA!!
Thank you for reminding me the sometimes I am my own Stressor...it really is always me who does this to myself.

I hope the HAPPY out-did the Stress,Kath. I'm sure everyone thought,"Ohhhh that L-U-C-K-Y Grandma Kathleen"!!

HUGS...<<<<HUG)))) to 'Ya,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/68
ps...may I suggest that you post your post on the General Board?,as some parents don't read this Board. Just a Thought...


Message was edited by: Carolyn J

Oh KAth,
I am sitting here wiping away tears....that is so sweet. you did what you did, and your right no one noticed anyway !!! It is kind of funny how the stress overwhelms us for that minute !!

Congratulations to you and JESSICA !!!

GAYLE mom of Brandon ROBPI 8 1/2
Who says it has to be the right hand/arm all the time.....grrrrrrr !!!

Kath,

As I sit here with tears in my eyes.

How very proud you must be of Jessica. What a wonderful grandchild to ask you to be part of her special day. Isn't it wonderful that she never thought of can you or cann't you, but she just wanted you, her grandmother.

Congratulation to Jessica and your whole family.

Love and hugs,
Karen

Kath,

I don't know quite what to say - others have already said it. Mazel Tov for your granddaughter on her confirmation. Mazel Tov to you that she chose you as her sponsor.

Yes, we worry more about our arms and how we will look to others than we should. The important part is what kind of people we are on the inside.

Joanie

As you have always been supportive of me and cheer me on, well I get to do the same now. Congrats to you and your family. What a wonderful event for you to be a part of.
Marieke (31, LOBPI)

Kath,

The other night I had dinner with a friend I've had since high school. She's Catholic, so I told her your story. She said that she doesn't really "see" my arm. She "sees" me, the person that I am. I'm sure that the people in your church know you well enough to see the person that you are, and not your arm.

Joanie

Joanie
I know that they did not see the arm...
That is why it was so silly of me to get anxious about...

Many people in my church now know about my arm but it is only because I told them about it when I found UBPN.

I really don't think anyone looked at it at all, it was me worrying over nothing just as I did when I was a kid.

I really thought I was way beyond getting anxious over something like this and it shocked me!
I am usually happy to explain and help spread awareness.
That old familiar feeling came out of the blue.
I was so sure I was long past those feelings.

It was all for nothing because it was beautiful and I was thrilled and honored.
I love being a grandmother... LOL..
Kath robpi/adult

Kath,
Very often, I have the same kind of a "hurting Memory" Pop up at me "full blown hurting" soooo unexpectedly that it catches my breath. These things run deep and now nothing really shocks me. It is all part of this "BPI-er Life"!!

HUGS Heal...here's 1 for "Yous All".
Carolyn J

Kath,
You are exactly right. That was a very special day for you and I hope you enjoyed it.

I do the same thing and that is why I quit the work out center I was going to. I swear I could just feel the people eye balling me when I was trying to do the weights. Wondering why such a big girl like myself can't lift weights. Hehe..I know it sounds so stupid but it just got to me so I gave it up.

Now I am trying to do things at home so no one has to look at me..and even if they weren't I sure feel better about it.

I'm glad you were able to share your special day with her.

*HUGS*
Rachel