Love Island's Patsy on the disability that impacts her arm: what is Erb's Palsy?
As the nation gears up for a new series of Love Island, we also have a host of new single faces to get familiar with: one of whom is Patsy Field, a 29-year-old from London who is set to head into the villa.
Along with her hopes of finding a summer (and beyond) romance, Patsy has also been using her newfound platform to raise awareness of a condition known as Erb's Palsy, something she lives with and which means she has issues with one arm.
Ready to learn more about Patsy and Erb's Palsy? Read on...
What is Patsy from Love Island's disability?
Speaking ahead of entering the villa, Patsy told press, "I've got something very special about me which is my disability, it's a condition I was born with called Erb's Palsy.
"It doesn't define who I am, but it makes me a little different, although I've learnt to get on with it and it's never held me back."
What has Patsy said about Erb's Palsy?
In addition to the above and explaining she refuses to be defined by her condition, Patsy has reportedly said on social media, "One thing you guys don't know about me is I have a disability. I have never spoken about it on here before because I am a bit self-conscious about it to be honest.
"Pretty much everyone says they don't notice it, or they have never noticed it before but once I tell you go back and look through my old videos, you'll be able to spot it."
She developed Erb's Palsy at birth, according to The Sun, which writes that it was a result of complications that developed during labour; a c-section should have been offered to her mother, who ended up giving birth vaginally instead.
Patsy shared further details on her birth, saying: "I was a normal, happy, healthy baby in my mama's womb and the hospital f***ed up and gave me a disability. I should have been a cesarean birth, but the midwife thought she could do it and she couldn't – I was such a big baby, I was almost 11lb, a normal baby is like 7lb."
The Love Islander added that she "got stuck" during birth, "they're pulling and pulling and pulling and in the process of yanking me out, they have done some damage".
Finding humour in the situation, Patsy continued on to joke, "They snapped the nerve that sends messages down from my brain down my spine to my right arm, messages are trying to send, and this computer says no."
What is Erb's Palsy?
According to Erb's Palsy Group, the only UK-based support organisation for those with the condition: "Erb's Palsy, also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis, is a condition which mainly due to birth trauma, can affect one or all five of the primary nerves that supply the movement and feeling to an arm."
It goes on to explain that no two people will be injured or impacted in the same way. "The paralysis can be partial or complete; the damage to each nerve can range from bruising to tearing. Some babies recover on their own, however some may require specialist intervention."
The NHS adds that 80-90 percent of babies can fully recover, but every case is different.
Kim Hawksby, Trustee of the Erb’s Palsy Group, explains that often Erb's Palsy is preventable and that there are recommended guidelines by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for doctors and midwives to follow. "The excessive force used when pulling the baby's head out and down is what – in the majority of cases – causes the damage to the brachial plexus nerves. This is a preventable injury."
She adds that "the impact Erb’s Palsy has depends on how many nerves in the brachial plexus were damaged, how severe the damage is and how successful early surgical intervention is." It's important that babies are examined as early as possible if Erb's Palsy is suspected and if surgery is needed, that it happens before the child reaches 12 weeks of age.
Hawksby, who lives with Erb's Palsy, says it impacts her day-to-day life in a number of ways – many of which aren't immediately obvious. "All five of my brachial plexus nerves were damaged during my traumatic birth, resulting in a lifelong disability in my right arm. My right arm is shorter and smaller than my left and I have very limited function and impaired sensation in my arm and hand," she explains.
"Although I live a happy and fairly independent life, many everyday activities are difficult, such as using a knife and fork, putting my bra on or zipping up my coat, food preparation."
Additionally, Erb's Palsy has played a part in everything from Hawksby's career choices ("[I need a role that] doesn’t put too much strain and stress on my upper limb") to haircut (it must be easy for her to style).
"The psychological impact from having a disability can be huge at times, especially knowing that the disability was caused by clinical negligence," she shares. "My wish would be for everyone to be more understanding of how an upper limb disability can affect you and to not judge a disability on how it 'looks'."
For more information and support regarding Erb's Palsy, visit the Erb's Palsy Group
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