United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My DD, Ava, is clapping strongly! She used to have kind of this weak clap since she was basically just slapping her non-affected hand onto her LOBPI hand. She has started bringing them both together and clapping as hard as she can.

It just makes me smile.

Congrats! That's wonderful! How old is Ava?

No matter how little they are or how insignificant others think the milestones are, they always brought a tear of joy to my eyes. This is just so great!! Enjoy each step of the way!!
Emily

Congratulations!!! Getting my daughter to clap was one thing I worked on for months. I cannot recall what month that was, but I took it a step further, and started showing her that when we clap, it's over our heads. At around 20-21mo. she could do it!

Dear SusanLynn,

Thanks for giving your child's age when she clapped. My son (lobpi) is 11 months and doesn't clap. I know all of these recoveries are different, but it gives me lots of hope to keep being reminded that the recovery takes a LONG time, but he will get better and better. Thanks again.

Lexi

Sara, So EXCITING.....wishing all the BEST for your little AVA.

You're right that it is the small things that make us so happy. I think that one of the positive things about having a BPI is that you have so many more milestones to celebrate. I remember nursing Nicole at about 4 months old and seeing the tiniest flicker of movement in her finger and screaming to my husband to come see it. :O)

BTW, clapping was important to us b/c I could see how badly Nicole wanted to do it. I too was soo excited for her when she figured out a way to do it and then I was excited again when she figured out how to make more noise (she had told me once how it didn't "make the noise" when she clapped so I was so proud of her to figure out a way to "make the noise"). Now she claps very loudly and very happily!!

~Tina, (Mom to Nicole 6 y.o. w/LBPI & Joshua 1 y.o. w/NOBPI)

Ooops! Sorry! Ava is 2 years, 2 months. She has been clapping for a while but now is doing it much more "normally".

I am going to brag a bit, if that is okay. A few weeks ago we had one of those moments recently. My son has always sucked his thumb and the other day he was watching Shrek (his favorite movie) and I thought something looked odd about him. And when I realized what it was, I just cried and cried like a little baby. He was sucking his right thumb, which he has never done. I was so happy. Just another milestone, YEA! I ran and grabbed my camera and took a picture and I think I have emailed it to everyone. Sorry just wanted to share our milestone and brag a bit.

Ash

Ash,

Those moments when you do a "double take" because your brain can't figure out which arm is which... they are the absolute BEST!

Congratulations!!

Kate