Jennifer Matthews: RJ happily grabs the sticker, but that simple movement wasn't always so easy. During his journey down the birth canal, RJ suffered an injury to his brachial plexus nerve, which runs from the neck to the arm and controls arm and shoulder movement.
Russell Wren: Right away, we knew because his arm wasn't working. It was limp.
Jennifer Matthews: Two-thirds of children with brachial plexus palsy recover on their own. RJ showed some improvement, but therapy and surgery were not enough.
Mary Wren: It was quite a while before he was even able to lift his arm up. It just kind of hung on his side, and if we wanted a hug, we kind of had to pick it up and put it around our necks.
Jennifer Matthews: Doctor Scott Kozin offered RJ a minimally invasive shoulder surgery.
Dr. Scott Kozin: The reason that the arthroscopy for shoulder in children is such a medical breakthrough is the use of the small scope allows us to release these tissues and put the ball back in the socket. This allows us to put it back in with a small incision and regain more motion than what could be done through an open procedure.
Jennifer Matthews: RJ's feeling the benefits.
Russell Wren: Before the surgery, he had problems with things like dressing himself, which he now can do.
Jennifer Matthews: One year later, RJ is doing great and strutting his stuff.
Mary Wren: He just has such personality. He's amazing.
Jennifer Matthews: This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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