United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughter Zavian, LOBPI, is 5 years old now so you would think I probably should be all cried out by now. Well I'm not. She recently had a latissimus transfer with Dr.Gharboui @TCH and has the Statue of Liberty splint on. Since she will be out of school for 8 weeks I decided to get some construction paper, glitter glue, cut-outs...just stuff we could work on at home until she got back to school and her friends. Well, the other night we were down on the floor and I was cutting out her name the she had put into the palm of the right hand on some construction paper. The phone rang and I got up to answer it. I was talking on the phone when I looked at Zavian to make sure she wasn't handling the scissors without me watching when to my amazement/astonishment she was still cutting out the hand print only instead of me holding the paper she held it between her toes!!! I don't know whatever happended to the person on the phone because I just burst into tears. It hurt me so bad to see my little girl down there on the floor holding the paper with her toes and not the other hand(even though it is in a cast). It just bought me to the realization that she may never have use of her arm or hand but she will find a way to do whatever it is she wants to do. And for that I am proud.

How smart Zavian is!

And, how right you are to be proud, Zaidra!

Zaidra,
You are going to be surprised that your daughter will have many good acomplishments/milestones all her own because she has the skills to find her own way of doing things. We BPI-ers are a tenacious and clever "inventors". Of course, you do know that we are stubborn too, but that is a "Good Thing".

I wish I had ben smart enough to think to use my "good" foot. I used my teeth too much & still do.

HUGS,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/69 & defintely over-aged!

she will always find a way and continue to surprise you! be happy that the mind is so inventive!
~Mel

It is amazing what we as humans can do to figure things out. I always say if there is a will there is a way.

You should be proud even though it hurts at the same time that is an amazing accomplishment.

Stay positive and thank you for sharing your story.

Sometime when we loose one ability we gain another.
I think OBPI children/adult develop creative minds.

We must be creative to do the ordinary... It's great to see how creative your daughter is!

Just wait and see how well she develops and how many ways she can use her creativity.

Thanks for sharing this story and I'm sorry it made you cry... but as a mother I understand.

Kath robpi/adult

What a wonderful and talented little girl you have. You should be very proud of Zavion. I am Bilateral OBPI and wish I would have had the smarts all those years ago to use a foot or two. Probably would have saved my parents many a grey hair.

I can proudly say that there have not been very many things in my life that I have NOT been able to do.

One way or another.

Dry your tears and kiss and hug that lil girl. Tina