Our little Sara, whom we view as perfect in every way, was injured during the birth process. Sara was 9 lb. 11 oz. and experienced what is known as a shoulder distocia. Shoulder distocia is a very serious complication where the child's shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother's pubic bone as the child travels through the birth canal. The interventions that were performed to facilitate the birth resulted in an injury to the nerves in the left side of Sara's neck that control her left arm. Those nerves are collectively referred to as the Brachial Plexus.

Sara's delivery was very traumatic! She was stuck in the birth canal for several minutes and once she was delivered she came out blue and floppy, APGAR 3. She was warmed and stimulated as all babies are after birth and she quickly began to breath on her own. Her color improved and she became more vigorous, but from the very beginning it was obvious that she had a serious injury. As she did become more vigorous and started to move around, everything moved but her left arm. She also had a Horner's Syndrome which results in some droopiness of her left upper eyelid and a subtle difference in the size of her pupils. The left arm lay flaccid on the bed and continued to do so for the next three months. At three months she had developed enough strength in the muscles of her chest and shoulder to start lifting the arm from the bed. She never moved her hand, she never flexed her arm at the elbow, and she never appeared to have any sensation in the left arm.

We saw a physical therapist within 2-3 weeks of birth and started with passive range of motion exercises for the left arm and shoulder. We also saw a Neurosurgeon and Plastic Surgeon over at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. They examined her on several occasions, did an MRI, and eventually suggested surgery. We were aware of the program in Texas but were strongly considering having the surgery here close to home. Then by chance I talked to a good friend from Toledo who actually has a daughter with Erb's Palsy whom they had taken to the clinic in Texas. Julie and I both realized at that point that we would be doing Sara a great disservice if we didn't take her to be examind by the best. Our surgeon in Cincinnati does 3-4 of these surguries a year. The surgeons in Texas do that many almost every week.