United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

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

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.