United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am sad to convey that there will NOT be a NC BP Picnic this 2002 year. Because of complications that have arisen from the Ohio picnic.... Dr. Shenaq has postponed attending any other picnics for now. We are all disappointed but hope that the New Year will bring good news .........Debra Miller
PS...for future reference--don't rely on heresay about a NC BP Picnic--only believe it if you see a posting BY ME on the UBPN "CALENDAR" section of the website!
Thanks Debra Miller

Could somebody tell me what happened at the Ohio picnic?

Yes, I was at that picnic and don't recall anything happening. I do know that Baylor recently made some changes in how things are to be handled but I did not think they affected the picnics. I would like to know what is going on. Are they not going to be doing anymore picnics at all?

I'm taking a guess here- I have heard that Dr's from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital (CHMC) got a bit upset actually my therapist said that they were "up in arms' that Dr's from TCH were taking their potential patients away from them. I heard that they tried to block Dr. Shenqaq from attaining his temporary license so he wouldn't be able to evaluate the children at the picnic.
I know for a fact that immediately after the OH picnic Cincinnati's Childrens has suddenly found funding for a Brachial Plexus Clinic to start here at Cincinnati's Drake Hospital through CHMC begining next month. I have mixed emotions about this: on one hand it is wonderful that the injury is getting some much needed recognition and a clinic here in our home state is great, but are our children going to get the same care and experience as they would otherwise?? Is it just a $$ thing? Hhmmmm......
Not long ago, the head neurologist here in Cincinnati instructed us that he was inexperienced in BPI's and we should use whatever means available to get to TCH to have our child evaluated. How and when have these Dr's received the necessary training in BPI's ?
Just my take on it.

Dr. Nath explained to me that some defense neurologists and ob's got together and complained to the head of Baylor that #1 - TCH docs were "practicing" out of state w/o proper licensing and #2 - they were accused of referring patients to lawyers for malpractice cases. They will now be obtaining permanent, not temporary licenses, for next years picnics. Dr. Nath said he would forward the info to me of where we (the parents of BPI children) can write letters to voicing our concerns.

I am guessing here... I have heard that the Dr's from Cincinnati Children's Hospital ( CHMC) were a wee bit upset about Dr's from TCH coming to their turf and evaluating their potential patients. I heard that the Dr's from Cincinnati tried in vain to block Dr. Shenaq from receiving his temporary medical licence in order to prohibit him from being able to evaluate patients at the OH picnic.
Ironically, one month after the OH picnic Cincinnat's Childrens' has suddenly found the funding to start a Brachial Plexus Clinic here at the Drake Hospital in Cincinnati which will open in November. It is concerning to me that the Dr's all of a sudden feel confident enough to evaluate our kids, when not too long ago they saw my daughter and as they were scratching their heads, they reccommended that if we had any means to get to TCH that we should go there as quickly as possible; which we thankfully did.
Could this possibly just be about the $$$$ they are losing to TCH and not in the best interest of our children? I am going to wait to see the clinic first hand before I rush to judgement, but I just hope in my heart that this clinic is opening for the right reasons and not merely $$$. I am even more concerned that this SO PREVENTABLE injury is still happening each day to innocent children around the world. When will it ever stop??