United Brachial Plexus Network

Please consider helping create a voice for all of these precious children! Kath had suggested we all write to the message boards before and after the show. I think it is very important. We have VERY, VERY few opportunities like this. If we want to help create a voice for these children then we need to take a few minutes out of our busy lives to pitch in. We need to thank Dr. Phil for taking this risk, even though he was harsh on me . People don't understand this injury and they don't understand what it entails when caring for the child and optimizing their recovery.

I just went to the message boards and they are already starting to hop. Check out the posts below. Please voice yourselves for the childrens sake. Perhaps the interest will help generate some future media attention and others will have a chance to share their stories. Let's be sure to clear up some of the myths here as well. Thanks guys! Lisa

http://boards.drphil.com/WebX?14@@.f06b9f7

(just saw on the message board) Speak up...now is your chance!!!!!!

THIS IS WHY I GOT OUT OF OBSTETRICS
duckie7 12.13.04 - 9:43am (13.1.1)
This is the type of discussion that made me get out of Obstetrics....which is too bad, because I think I was very good at it. I was trained very well in all the maneuvers to relieve a shoulder dystocia...and sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't. Sometimes a labor went perfectly, yet there was still a dystocia during delivery and even if you did everything as you should, sometimes there was an injury. Babies are getting bigger and bigger it seems, probably due to the high insulin lifestyle that we lead in this country. But an ultrasound can't always predict accurately the size of a baby at term, and unless you've had a baby before you don't really know what size baby can fit through your pelvis. If you are conservative and do a lot of c-sections, then you're blamed for doing too many c-sections when labor is supposed to be a natural process. And trust me, I've put women through lots of different positions described in the Bradley method (which I used for my own labors, by the way) but sometimes a dystocia can't be relieved. I am not lessening the hardship of anyone who has a child with this...it's a terrible injury that is devastating to the family. And my husband, who is an orthopedic surgeon, deals with this a lot. But you know, it's a little frustrating to lumped into a "Doctors are the enemy" category. There are some bad ones, yes....and there are some good ones that get blamed for the times when a woman doesn't walk out the door with a perfect baby. For all of you who deal with this injury, my thoughts are with you. But a lot of these posts illustrate very well why I no longer deliver babies. Just my humble input.




DON'T TRUST JUST ANY DOCTOR!
kat200 12.12.04 - 9:57pm (13.)
As with any profession, there are good, reputable doctors and bad ones. It is up to you to ask the right questions before trusting your life and or that of your child to just any old doctor.
I'm really getting tired of the increasing amount of horror stories on TLC, Discovery, and talk shows. I don't know about Lisa yet or the rest of you, but on previous shows with horror stories, it was very clear that: the patient did not ask the right questions and just blindly trusted the doctor. Are you board-certified? How many procedues have you done? Have you ever been sued? How many patients have had complications? Is there anything else you would ask if you were in my shoes? By not asking these questions, you are setting yourself up for less than the best and lowering your standards. I have yet to hear of a story where the patient was smart and did all the right things and did not pick someone was not a run-of-the-mill doctor.
I'm not trying to downplay how tragic these injuries are, but any doctor who yanks or pulls on a baby (or uses forceps or vacuum) should not be in practice, as the previous poster said. Oh, and getting stuck can be fixed by getting on your hands and knees--ask a Bradley instructer or midwife.

Forgot to mention, you must sign up to post on Dr. Phil's message board. It only takes a second but you cannot post right away. They will send you an activation link, so if you are interesting in contributing and helping out, you should sign up now.

Thanks,
Lisa

Don't you worry, he has already heard from me a few times. I replied to both of those links. Get a grip! I am sorry she had to ger out of obstetrics, but if she was not the problem then she should be part of the solution. These type of people upset me...I thought I was over being ANGRY.....but they just pumped up those feelings all over again.

Lisa,
I just saw the show and it made me cry. I am really proud of you and your famiy for going onto the show. I am 33 with lobpi. I know it sounds corny, but my parents didn't know how to help when I was growing up. I did the best I could with what I knew (which was I didn't know any better). I couldn't play sports, although I went on to be a cheerleader and I also played trumpet and piano. I know and understand that every situation is different. I am so thankful that I am the person I have become today. I have over come a lot of barriers in life and continue to live with the pain every day. Tanner is so lucky to have a supportive family and so is your daughter. Together with a strong family he will grow up to make you both proud. Just remember to take time and enjoy life as it comes. I just tried to get onto the Dr. Phil message board and it says my name is already taken. It wont' let me on. I'm going to keep trying. I hope you make it to camp in 2005. I am looking so forward to meeting everyone.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Great Job! Thanks Lisa for getting awareness out there. They could have done a hold job on this.

I am having my Dad record the show for me. I can't wait to see it. Thanks again Lisa for spreading the word!!!!

Laura

LIsa,

I just saw the show and have to say awesome job. I think that even that little bit will help. I feel like it was me sitting there when you described how you felt and how it affected your family. I think you did a great job.

Kelly From Chicago

you did a great job, lisa! i would have like dr. phil to focus more on the injury, but at least you got a chance to get the word out. Congrats! btw, you have a beautiful family.

I just saw the show and I am so glad that someone got out there to talk about this. Our children are going though some much at their young age. Maybe now alot more can be done to help everyone out.

bumping up