United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have just joined this nice forum. And so happy to realize this forum. I was born in 1971 and had brachial plexus from the birth. I have had many problems due to my ability as many people. Because even healthy people have many problem in life. Life is hard but for me (and of course for us) it is much more difficult. I feel like I started to a race behind hundreds of meters behind other people. And this is real.

I am married and I am the father of two children and I work as a teacher. What I know that my parents weren't interested with my disability.

Is this brachial plexus related only to the doctors who make birth? Is there any other reasons for this?

And I wonder if you drive a car how?

Bye

Excuse me I forgot about my disability. I have bp in my right hand. My right arm is weak and I cannot use any fingers. I can move my shoulder and elbow but cannot move my wrist. I can carry something under my arm but without usins my hand.

Hi Hopeless,

I have read your post and come away with one feeling that you seem to be very depressed... it is especially worrisome to me becuase of the alias you have chosen to use. Is it possible for you to seek the help of a professional counselor? There are many counselor's out there who work with people with physical limitations and all that surrounds those types of issues. I urge you to do what you can to shift your mindset. You deserve a happier life.

I don't know where you live, but I hope that you can come to a bpi gathering somewhere and meet others who have the same issues as you. http://www.injurednewborn.com/gatherings.html or I wonder if it's possible for you to come to the UBPN camp at the end of August (see the links about it from the homepage here). It will be an extremely worthwhile weekend that alone might help you tremendously.

God bless you and big hugs to you,
I'm glad you found us,
francine


http://www.injurednewborn.com

Hopeless,
Your school you work for (or your wife - whoever carries the medical insurance), should have an Employee Assistance program through human resources. They can set you up for some "crisis" counseling (which just means they'll evaluate, give you so many sessions and will refer you on to someone who can really help.) All you should need to do is call and get the Employee Assistance phone number and they'll set you up). I agree with Francine....you sound very depressed.........I also think you've come to the right place to find people who have an injury just like yours. Best of luck...

Hello,

I'm very glad you found us.
Like you, I did not know of any others with this injury until about 6 years ago, and it has been wonderful to find this group of people and become involved in creating this organization.

We have many resources on this site to help you find information but I think one of the most valuable resources are all the people who frequent these message boards. They have become my very dear friends.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and to share what is happening in your life.

Know that there is ALWAYS hope.

Nancy Birk
UBPN President

Hello:

I was also born in 1971. I am a right bpi from birth. This website has opened SO many doors for me. As like many of you, I never realized there were others like me out there. I feel like when I come to this website, people can help me through some questions I have or if I just feel like letting off steam.

Like Nancy said, there is always hope. I don't know if you are depressed or not, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. I have 2 children myself. I think since my arm is effected they have more compassion toward others with disabilities.

I hope you find what your looking for. Take care & always feel free to ask questions.

Deanna

Thanks a lot for everyone. Maybe my username is exaggerated. Of course I m not hopeless all the time. Eventually one day we are all going to be free from that problem. I mean whether or not you have disability will not be important...in our graves.
I m sure it sounds depressed but it has been really a problem at least for my life to have a disability. When people see you normally they look and say "How terrible!" maybe not aloudly but their eyes tell these. Anyway the environment where we live, the conditions we live have effects in our lives. Some are lucky some are not.

Anyway I think this is not a platform that I cry for my life but life is not easy and if you try to drive a car with two tires instead of four tires it is too difficult to reach your target. And if the road is much worse then your job is very very very hard.

But I try to live good thinks in my life and try to think in an optimistic way.

Thanks four your comments and suggestions....

Thanks for your attention. In fact I didn't want to make you think me as depressed but may be my name is exaggerated. Some people are lucky some are not. The environment and condition that we live aren't same for everyone. I have had many problems so far. Maybe they arent problems for every body. In fact this is not a place to explain my life. But the problems that I have made me some hopeless. But maybe I am a depressed people. Let me say usually depressed but sometimes happy..

Anyway to be with friends with the same disability made me happy. Maybe we all have had same type of problems maybe not. But I wonder how you have solved such problems.

Excuse me I had posted first reply as guest. I didn't know that I wasn't login. Then I thought that it wasn't posted and wrote another one.

Your right we are all here to help and knowing that there is always great to have.Tell us what you like to do or try what makes you happy? The one thing is to rember that you are doing the best you can that why you have to focus on what you have done your a teacher think how you help to shape other peoples life that is a great thing.GOOD LUCK GOD BLESS.