My Daughter's Journey With A Brachial Plexus Injury

August 31, 2012 was the happiest day of my life! That was the day I finally got to meet my daughter, Frances Lynn.

She was born at 5:14 pm and weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. I wish I could say I had the "fairy book" delivery, but I did not. During delivery she suffered a shoulder dystocia, her left shoulder became lodged behind my pelvic bone after her head was delivered. Due to this she suffered an obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI). Her condition is also referred to as Erb's Palsy. The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.

Our first few days home were very emotional! I was a first time mom and I had this baby that required extra care in holding, feeding and sleeping. Her left arm was completely limp. Whenever we picked her up we had to be extra careful and make sure we supported that arm. If we didn't it would just hang down and that could have caused more injuries. I breast fed and I had to carefully position her arm so that both her and I would be comfortable. She was just 4 days old when she saw her first specialist and was diagnosed with OBPI. At 1 month old she started occupational therapy once a week.

Here she is at 5 days old.

She was 4 months old when she finally regained some substantial movement in her arm. 

 Here she is at 6 months finally reaching out to me!

She has also had to wear different arm braces.

 Here she is wearing her current brace.

She is now almost 3 years old and most people on a quick glance cannot tell anything is wrong with her. Upon closer inspection you can tell there is something off about her left arm. When she walks/runs she holds that arm tightly to her stomach as if to protect it from any harm. She cannot straighten her elbow completely, she cannot reach above her head like her right arm and when she drinks her elbow is sticking out instead of being held down. She cannot put on or take off a shirt because her arm will get hung up in the sleeve. Pulling her pants up is difficult because that does require she reach behind her sometimes to adjust the waistband.

Her new specialist wants to perform a nerve transplant surgery on her shoulder in October. He believes this will help her regain certain functions in her arm that she does not have now.

We've had her in weekly gymnastic lessons since December 2014 because it is cheaper then her therapy was costing us. One therapy session was a $50 co-pay and we can get a months worth of lessons for that same cost. I've had a few therapist tell me that gymnastics will work her arm better then they ever could. We have seen a remarkable improvement in her strength and confidence since she started this venture. I fully intend on keeping her in gymnastics until she tells me she doesn't wish to do it anymore. 

 Here she is during one of her gymnastic lessons.

My daughter has overcome a lot in her short life. We are thankful she didn't suffer a worse injury like a bilateral BPI (affects both arms). Her injury isn't something to be taken lightly and it is a disability. I challenge everyone to try to function with just one arm for just one day. I've tried it and I know it is virtually impossible for me. I admire all those that have this injury and don't let it stop them from doing whatever they want!