United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I think a gatering of us adult obpi is a great idea and much needed one. I know that, like Kathleen, I greatly benefitted from meeting other adults with this injury at the Florida picnic (Fall 2000) where I first met Kathleen and Judy was a special treat for me. It was also where I first met adult tbpi's as Dave M. from England and Ryan McClune were there as well.

I think it is extremely beneficial for the parents and kids with this injury, though, to meet us and talk with us. I always enjoy meeting and talking with the families too and hope that as our organization grows we can move into some kind of mentorship program that pairs adult obpi with the obpi children.

So what I would like to see happen is that we meet as part of something bigger. UBPN is in the beginning stages of planning for another camp for the summer of 2003 and we hope to have speakers as well as fun activities as we did last time. I think this would be a wonderful setting for such an adult gathering. What do you all think? We have also discussed a conference but the camp worked so well, and we had a nice mix of educational speakers and fun activities in a great setting. We could have roundtable discussions limited to specific groups as we did last time (we had one for injured only that Ryan McClune led and it was a great session with the kids (minus parents) and adult obpi and tbpi present. We could have sessions focusing on aging issues, for instance.

Just my thoughts, off the top of my head. Interesed in what you would like to see happen.

Nancy

Nancy,
This may sound selfish, but I thought -at least the first time the adults could have a chance to really connect on their own without any thing else on the agenda but adult OBPI. Speakers that addresss issues that we as adults deal with. If there were 2 conferences, one for everyone and one for adults, that would be great, I don't know how to word this without sounding inconsiderate, but it would turn into a child focused conference and while I would love a chance to meet with the parents and discuss growing up with OBPI, I also want a chance to do something I've never done--meet adults who have faced the same issues throughout their life as I have and have time to talk adult issues.
This is just my opinion. I don't mean to hurt anybody's feelings. Pat

No disrespect intended to the parents and children, but I tend to agree with Pat. Until us adults understand better what our situations were/are and will be, It would be hard for me to pair off with a child and/or their parent. Taking in consideration that most of the childern have had or will have surgury and we as older adults have not, I'm not sure if I could relate very well or not. I have not intended to hurt feelings, and to mix into a larger group later would be more comfortable. Sharon