Benefit to be held for Oliphants

by Anna Jauhola • Daily News

Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 9:47 AM CST
http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/articles/2008/12/03/news/doc4936a8483fa0c620708885.txt

At 10 months old, Lawson Oliphant is a happy little boy spending time at his grandma's daycare in Breckenridge. One wouldn't be able to tell the difference between him and another 10-month-old except possibly by the way he climbs furniture.

Lawson has brachial plexus palsy, which is a birth injury. The nerves in his left arm became detached from his spinal cord during delivery, resulting in a lack of muscular control. Lawson is the son of Alysha and Tanner Oliphant, Foxhome, Minn., and his grandparents are Kim and Tom Willemssen of Breckenridge, Lori Oliphant of Abercrombie, and Danny and Doreen Oliphant of Foxhome.

Lawson had surgery at 6-months-old and was in a half body cast for six weeks. Prior to that he had two MRIs and two EMGs. Currently, Lawson sees an occupational therapist and a physical therapist from Fergus Falls, Minn., at his daycare. The occupational therapist is teaching Lawson how to do things using both his arms.

Due to his injury, Lawson cannot feel his left arm at all, resulting in him not realizing he even has a left arm. When he pushes a toy around, the occupational therapist will place both of Lawson's hands on the toy.

"His mind is not saying 'I have an arm,'" Willemssen said. "He can't feel the arm at all. If he cut himself he'd never know it."

The occupational therapist is also teaching Lawson's parents and grandparents how to teach him things. Currently, Lawson climbs furniture using his right arm and his head to compensate for the lack of use in his left arm.

The physical therapist is working to build Lawson's muscle tone in his left arm. Since he doesn't know he has a left arm, he doesn't use it, resulting in the loss of muscle.

"They're currently talking more EMGs and MRIs, which will lead to more surgeries," Willemssen said. Lawson goes to Gillette Children's Health Care Hospital, St. Paul, Minn.

A benefit is being held Friday, Dec. 5 at the Wahpeton Eagles Club from 5-9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the Chili 'n Fixins feed with a free will offering. The theme of the benefit will be a Christmas Wonderland Auction. A silent auction will be set up along the sides of the room with things like decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and other holiday-themed items. Four major items up for auction include an 80 acre aerial spray, a Wii game system, a Nintendo DS game system and an iPod. Santa will also be at the benefit. People can have their picture taken with him for a free will offering.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Wilkin County Chapter 31304, is matching funds up to $1,000 for this benefit.