United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

This past week I successfully finished drinking out of a can using only my affected arm and didnt even pour it on myself! Doesnt sound like much but I felt so proud. So heres to another first!

Thank you all for always being here,

Evan/18/LOBPI

That is Amazing!

I was just in the hospital and the iv in my left elbow left me thirsty. No one got it that I could not get the glass to my face without it tipping.

Three Cheers for you!

Kath robpi/adult

Way to go Evan! It's cool when we fiind new things we can do.

Kath, I'm with you! I can't eat or drink if they put the IV in my right elbow crook. I have a few favorite sites for IVs, thank God I am now used to getting them (at least 2 a year now when a migraine that won't die comes along). The nurses listen to me now too (not just because I am one too), b/c they see that I have been in and out of the hospital for the last 5 years and know my body!

Marieke 33, LOBPI

That is freaking sweet! Congrats!

I dribbled a basketball with my affected arm for the first time two days ago!

Chris 24/LOBPI

WOW, Congratulations, Chris!
Keep up these "Firsts".

Hugs all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/70

Way to go go Chris! I'm glad to hear you can dribble the ball and enjoy yourself.

Marieke I have the world's worst veins. Even the IV teams go crazy. They found one in the crook of my arm and one near my wrist. The one near the wrist blew after they put in the stent. I hate having my blood drawn or IV's because they can't find a vein. I have so much scar tissue in my arm from years of tests and tiny veins... ugh. Getting a blood test is one of my biggest nightmares!

Kath robpi

So, today I was working with weights at home, and was able to do 3 sets of 10 reps of one arm bicep curls with a 10+ lb weight, with control, with my BPI arm. I have never been able to do that in my life with my left arm! In the past, it's always been more of an uncontrolled dropping of the weight followed by the inability to lift the weight. That's an accomplishment anyone else I know might not understand.

-Chris, 24/LOBPI

Congrats, Chris..anytime you incease function of your Left arm is great! I say you have no limits!
Carolyn J
LOBPI sometimes an adult

Chris,

Thats awesome about dribbling the basketball and about lifting the weights! Sorry I havent gotten here sooner to tell you that. I have sort of given up on lifting weights with my left because after I do any reps at all, I dont sleep for like three days. Definate difference between productive and unproductive pain and the pain I get after lifting with my left is definately unproductive. Which is a drag because I really want to work it out more.

These affected arm firsts are cool, keep postin as they happen man, and ill do the same! When they happen not if!

Evan/18/LOBPI