Salem's First Cast
Well, the first cast is on. When we originally visited Dr. Accousti at Children's Hospital in New Orleans for the consultation, we were told there was a new waterproof material, it was being tried on a few other kids, and Salem might be able to get it by the time she got casted. That was exciting news.
Fast forward to just this past Monday, April 20. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am. We waited to be checked in, waited to be called back, waited to be seen by the anesthesiologist, waited to actually get the Versed (makes her loopy and not remember things), waited to see another nurse, and waited to be brought down to the OR. She went back for casting around 8am. At 9:30 the doctor came out to let us know it went very well and she did great! He was able to straighten her spine during the procedure easily and was pleased with how straight they were able to get it (will show x-rays below). He was also excited about how well the material did during casting. We were glad and waited to be brought to Salem in recovery.
She was cranky and drinking pedialite. What we didn't expect was what the cast actually looked like. I had researched blogs and Facebook groups about early onset scoliosis and the casting. I thought I was prepared for what we would see. The casts I had seen were made of plaster with a hole for the tummy. I cried some-because she was cranky, because she looked different, because I'm emotional and pregnant, and mostly because it wasn't what I had thought I had prepared myself to see. We held her and started getting used to handling her with this thing on.
We finally got into a room and she slept off and on, with no problems luckily. She was a little irritable from the meds still. I had received so much support from one Facebook group in particular beforehand from moms who had been through this before. I posted Salem's picture and that we were done casting, not know what they would say about it being so different. Everyone was curious! Even we were really. I had gotten used to the concept that hers just looks different and reminded myself that she could still take baths. Everyone had questions for me, and we had questions for the doctor. The day went by and two of the techs that assisted with the casting came to see us. We were a little concerned it was too snug at the bottom of her abdomen because she would get fussy when she tried to sit up. They spoke with us for a bit and said they would be back with the doctor in the morning to make changes.
Salem slept great, other than the times the nurse had to come in for vitals. We slept, well, on hospital pull out couch things, haha. The doctor and techs came in that morning and bent the bottom of the cast some away from her tummy. She was already in a better mood that morning and now appeared to be more comfortable. They also answered so many questions we had! We found out that the company that manufactures this waterproof casting material is only making it for arms and legs currently, it's like a tube or a sleeve that they fit around. Some of the larger sizes are large enough for most tiny torsos like Salem's. It was our hospital's team who had the thought to try it for this type of casting, and we're only the second to have it as far as cases like this. They even asked if they could send Salem's picture in the cast to the company in an effort to get them to manufacture larger ones for casts like these. I had no idea really HOW new this was. I told them how many moms on the group page were interested in this material, how many questions they had. One mom even messaged me asking if she could send a picture of Salem's cast to her son's surgeon, hoping the material could be used for one of his next casts. I posted the company's brochure on the group page, along with Salem's x-rays showing the straightening in the cast. We know this material is experimental at this point but were willing to try it out. Our doctor and team are excited about the possibilities. And how wonderful it would be if it works for this method too?! Endless baths and swimming for all!
We got home yesterday around 2pm. Salem immediately started crawling and pulling up, although she gets tired faster, and gets a little frustrated if she can't do something right away. She's been a little snugglier, which is nice because that's not normal for her. The cast makes it awkward to hold her but we're figuring it out. We gave her a bath, with just a little water, and the cast dried pretty quickly just by patting it with a towel. She slept through the night at home too. Glad it doesn't bother her too much so far.
So, now her spine needs to hold straight in the cast and continue to grow straight through the casting process. Please pray with us that it will and that it would correct permanently. As I mentioned in my first post, we'll need to get a new cast every 2-3 months. We'll go back for her next one sometime mid-late June. Thank God for this method of treatment, for inventive doctors and technicians, and for other supportive people! And thanks y'all for the prayers.
Here are some pictures!
Jenny
Fast forward to just this past Monday, April 20. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am. We waited to be checked in, waited to be called back, waited to be seen by the anesthesiologist, waited to actually get the Versed (makes her loopy and not remember things), waited to see another nurse, and waited to be brought down to the OR. She went back for casting around 8am. At 9:30 the doctor came out to let us know it went very well and she did great! He was able to straighten her spine during the procedure easily and was pleased with how straight they were able to get it (will show x-rays below). He was also excited about how well the material did during casting. We were glad and waited to be brought to Salem in recovery.
She was cranky and drinking pedialite. What we didn't expect was what the cast actually looked like. I had researched blogs and Facebook groups about early onset scoliosis and the casting. I thought I was prepared for what we would see. The casts I had seen were made of plaster with a hole for the tummy. I cried some-because she was cranky, because she looked different, because I'm emotional and pregnant, and mostly because it wasn't what I had thought I had prepared myself to see. We held her and started getting used to handling her with this thing on.
We finally got into a room and she slept off and on, with no problems luckily. She was a little irritable from the meds still. I had received so much support from one Facebook group in particular beforehand from moms who had been through this before. I posted Salem's picture and that we were done casting, not know what they would say about it being so different. Everyone was curious! Even we were really. I had gotten used to the concept that hers just looks different and reminded myself that she could still take baths. Everyone had questions for me, and we had questions for the doctor. The day went by and two of the techs that assisted with the casting came to see us. We were a little concerned it was too snug at the bottom of her abdomen because she would get fussy when she tried to sit up. They spoke with us for a bit and said they would be back with the doctor in the morning to make changes.
Salem slept great, other than the times the nurse had to come in for vitals. We slept, well, on hospital pull out couch things, haha. The doctor and techs came in that morning and bent the bottom of the cast some away from her tummy. She was already in a better mood that morning and now appeared to be more comfortable. They also answered so many questions we had! We found out that the company that manufactures this waterproof casting material is only making it for arms and legs currently, it's like a tube or a sleeve that they fit around. Some of the larger sizes are large enough for most tiny torsos like Salem's. It was our hospital's team who had the thought to try it for this type of casting, and we're only the second to have it as far as cases like this. They even asked if they could send Salem's picture in the cast to the company in an effort to get them to manufacture larger ones for casts like these. I had no idea really HOW new this was. I told them how many moms on the group page were interested in this material, how many questions they had. One mom even messaged me asking if she could send a picture of Salem's cast to her son's surgeon, hoping the material could be used for one of his next casts. I posted the company's brochure on the group page, along with Salem's x-rays showing the straightening in the cast. We know this material is experimental at this point but were willing to try it out. Our doctor and team are excited about the possibilities. And how wonderful it would be if it works for this method too?! Endless baths and swimming for all!
We got home yesterday around 2pm. Salem immediately started crawling and pulling up, although she gets tired faster, and gets a little frustrated if she can't do something right away. She's been a little snugglier, which is nice because that's not normal for her. The cast makes it awkward to hold her but we're figuring it out. We gave her a bath, with just a little water, and the cast dried pretty quickly just by patting it with a towel. She slept through the night at home too. Glad it doesn't bother her too much so far.
So, now her spine needs to hold straight in the cast and continue to grow straight through the casting process. Please pray with us that it will and that it would correct permanently. As I mentioned in my first post, we'll need to get a new cast every 2-3 months. We'll go back for her next one sometime mid-late June. Thank God for this method of treatment, for inventive doctors and technicians, and for other supportive people! And thanks y'all for the prayers.
Here are some pictures!
Jenny
Sleeping after the cast
Much better after they bent the bottom out a bit
Pulling up by herself
Her most comfortable position
Sleeping beauty
Her original x-ray before casting
X-ray in the cast
Sitting on daddy
Going home!
Happy to be playing at home
Brandon and I got crafty and made Salem a casted friend
So glad she is transitioning well! Love the Minnie in the cast--so sweet.
ReplyDeleteThanks!! :)
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