Spotlight Story - Benjamin Beltaifa

by Elizabeth Beltaifa

Benny is our second child and we were beyond excited to meet our sweet boy the day of his birth. We didn’t realize that his first day would be the day we learned new vocabulary words, ones rarely spoken about in discussions at baby showers. Words like Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) or Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury (OBPI) and what that meant. We were also hearing words we already knew, like paralyzed and lifetime, but this time it was used as in a lifetime injury to our own son. Our world all of a sudden was filled with a lot of tears and uncertainties.

We didn’t know how to help him or what to think about his future. We were finding ourselves taking it one day at a time. We had some help along the way that we were beyond grateful for, but when it all felt overwhelming, we lost insurance and I was not able to go back to work due to his injuries at that time. We were then introduced to ECI.

Benny’s arm was paralyzed at birth and he had to have surgery at seven months old. While the nerves were healing, we had him in physical therapy and then occupational therapy with ECI. He did not have feeling in his arm or hand at all before surgery. But once he had the surgery and started to feel, he went from not wanting anyone to touch his arm or hand to being able to sustain physical touch because of his therapists. He went from his arm hanging by his side, to lifting it up above his head. He also went from not being able to figure out how to get himself up and down anything, without hitting his face, to being able to more carefully use his body to do things other children were doing around him. He has been able to exit out of physical therapy, but occupational therapy will be a lifelong issue for him.

We also added Speech Therapy once we realized he was not speaking as many words as he should have been at the time. He was struggling to even say animal sounds and now he loves showing us animals and saying their sounds. Also, hearing Mama and Dada just lights up our world.

Although he will be turning 3 soon and will no longer receive ECI services, we cannot thank the amazing therapists he has worked with enough. The pure tears of grief, determination, and joy have been steady as we have watched his journey unfold. I will forever remember the day we were told what could happen in his future, but I will also hold in my heart his angels on earth, Angie, Mira, and Dazlyn. They have helped him be able to balance his body more, use his arm as a helper arm, and say more sounds.

Benny’s determination and BEST SMILE EVER really is the best part of this whole journey. Everyone who has met him has loved him and it wouldn’t be that way without all the help he has received in order to live his life to the fullest. 

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