Our baby was diagnosed with Erb's Palsey, need some info

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
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oscarsdriver
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:07 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: My new baby son was just diagnosed with Erb's palsey

Our baby was diagnosed with Erb's Palsey, need some info

Post by oscarsdriver »

Happy Easter Everyone,

My name is Jimmy and my wife and I recently had our first child together ( I have 2 step children). Elijah (our son) was diagnosed with Erb's Palsey and to be honest I'm a little in the dark. I have tried to research nerve damage online but find myself getting so emotional that it is sometimes hard to get through it. With that said is there any advise that some of you could share with me on experiences... what I should expect, what options should I consider, etc. We are scheduled to go see a specialist in Birmingham, Ala. later next month. We are currently doing therapy, with mixed results. It's the strangest thing when our son is awake he barely uses the arm, but when he is waking up he will sometimes lift it over his head. Is this a sign? I know not many of us are doctors but I'm sure some of us have experienced the same symptoms in our children. I know of all the things that could go wrong in birth, I should be happy to have a wonderful, beautiful baby boy... And I am so proud of him, however as any father would be I am worried and heart broken for him. Please Help... If just for listening.
-Jimmy
Kath
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Location: New York

Re: Our baby was diagnosed with Erb's Palsey, need some info

Post by Kath »

Jimmy
Congratulations on the birth of your new son! Please remember to enjoy him and not to be so focused on his arm that you miss some of the beautiful new things he can do.

It is very important to get an exam by a BPI specialist, not all neurologists are bpi specialist. I suggest that you get more than one opinion. Please be faithful to ROM and play while doing it. I thought all of the years of therapy ( done by my family) was play. It was not until I was an adult and found UBPN, that I realized it was therapy.

I am a birth injured adult, mother, grandmother and former Board member of UBPN. Until 1999 I thought I was the only one in the world with this birth injury. What a shock when I found a newly formed organization UBPN. It was also a God send for me and has changed my life. It is very important that you and your wife and the other children have support and this is the place to get it. You need to know that your son will have a full life and he is more than an arm and we are not defined by our arms.

I wish we did not have to meet this way but I've always wish my Mom had the support that will be offered to you here by other members of this bpi family.
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
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