United Brachial Plexus Network

Cathy - I'm taking your lead and posting this question so it has it's own topic... would love to hear about people's experiences.
-francine

Great idea! Thanks Francine. Cathy

I really liked the activity towards the end where we got in groups and shared stories and just talked. I believe I was in a discussion headed by Cathy, and it was very heartfelt. I felt we needed more time with the discussions but just my opinion!

It was a great experience. I appreciated the presentations by the attorneys & Dr. Nath. The activities for the kids were awesome and the time for them to just hang out and connect. I would agree with Joni that the best part were the group meetings at the end. It was what I needed the most. I would really like to see more opportunity and time given to these groups. We definitely didn't have enough time and a lot of people needed to share and I know they didn't get the chance. I also would have loved to have the opportunity to attend more than one. It was so hard picking one and having to miss any of them.

P.S. The square dance was a blast and there were sure some cute little dancers!

I still remember watching Kyle wall climb, that had to be the highlight of my trip. That and watching Joe try his hardest to climb the wall as well. I loved meeting my new friends, sitting with wonderful people at every meal. I'll not complain about the bus (or large van) ride because we got to visit with Ingrid and Adrian the entire way up the mountain. I loved the camp fire and singing songs. I liked watching the kids dance, Kyle even took a turn on the dance floor with me. I liked the getting to know you exercises that the camp staff put us through and meeting everyones family. I liked sitting by the fire and talking to people from all over the country. I liked absolutely everything about camp, it was a wonderful experience. Kyle wants to go just the two of us again. I am trying to talk him into letting his little sister join us this time but he just soaked up all that attention I don't know if he will let her come with us or not.

I am trying to think of one word to describe the experience and all I can think of is "magical". Thank you so much Cathy for planning more magic, we can't wait!

Let me know if I can help.
Love,
Jean in Michigan

Ok ok I'll post!! Sorry if it is long but I have a lot to say I think!
Ian was just 7 months old when we went to camp so I think our experience was a little different. Plus I came without my husband to help me. Ian didn't travel well so the first night was very rough!! We both spent some time crying. My roommates were very great and understanding! It was also set up for Ian to have his own personal babysitters so I could attend the different presentations... This was very very helpful. The only activity that we participated in was the Aqua Therapy session. This was helpful in that it gave me some better ideas of how to get Ian to enjoy the water. I think the best thing for me was getting to meet face to face with other families and to see other BPI kids... until that point I had not really seen other kids. There were two other families there with Kiddos close to Ian's age and it was so nice to watch them with their kids and be able to compare... you know how mom's like to do that but to compare kids with BPI to kids who were not affected seemed as if Ian was always way behind... it was good for me to be with them.
I must say that I am soooooo gald I went! If I had it to do over again I would have brought my husband and daughter... I think to a degree traveling with Ian at that age alone was very stressful for me! But well worth it.
I hope this helps!
Blessings,
Kristie

We are so looking forward to camp in 2003. We will all be there, including Brianna Nicole which was born in April. Right before the last camp in Colorado, we had just found out I was pregnant. I can not express how much camp has done for me and my family. There is nothing to compare it to. It is AWESOME!!! All of the activities, educational sessions, speakers, etc. are well worth the time and it is so hard to pick which things you want to do because you don't want to miss anything! We see Dr. Nath every 4 to 6 months, and I still will look so forward to seeing him at camp. We have actually been to two camps with EPIRG before they became UBPN, so we have been to three camps and they have all been so educational. And meeting the families, well, there are not any words that can describe the feelings and emotions that you will feel to be with our "family". I have not talked to some of the families that we "hung" out with in Colorado lately, but I think of them EVERYDAY and so does Brittany, and she is only 5. She remembers the names of the kids that she played with, and can't wait for the next camp to see them again. I know this is long, but I could go on about how great camp is. Once you go, you won't miss another!! Can't wait to see everyone!!
Kimberly Stallcup

Question about camp. Is there a camp for the traumatic brachial plexus families?

I think the camp is for all BPI injuries. I met people who sustained their injuries from car accidents, motorcycle accidents and snow mobile accidents.