A Look Back at this Past Year
A year ago, I brought up to the pediatrician that Salem's back looked funny when she sat.
A year ago, we waited over a weekend that felt like an eternity to find out what the X-ray showed.
A year ago, we found out Salem has Infantile Scoliosis. A diagnosis that I now know could cause deformity, organ damage and could ultimately lead to a shorter life-span - if left untreated.
We had a normal casting appointment at the hospital this past Monday. However, Dr. Accousti wanted to do an out of cast X-ray so we could see Salem's progress, something we've only done one other time 6 months ago. He had mentioned the last couple of visits about the possibility of a break, some time out of the cast, and we were waiting to see the progress of this X-ray before we made the decision. A break sounded like a good thing, but I was nervous. I didn't want her to have a break for a month or two only to have to put another cast back on and confuse her. A technician came to the room to cut the cast off and she stayed much calmer than I expected. She went for the X-ray, then we waited in the room...for a while. As she sat and watched TV, she wiggled and squirmed not knowing how to move. She acted unsure of herself. When I touched her back, feeling her spine, she jumped from the sensitivity I suppose. The only thing that has touched that skin for almost a year has been a cast.
The nurse came back in and said we would re-cast. We wanted to see the X-ray but I was a little releived that I wouldn't have to make that hard decision, or worse, disagree with the doctor's. Dr. Accousti waited for us downstairs and I was able to see the X-ray. (See all below.)
A year ago, we waited over a weekend that felt like an eternity to find out what the X-ray showed.
A year ago, we found out Salem has Infantile Scoliosis. A diagnosis that I now know could cause deformity, organ damage and could ultimately lead to a shorter life-span - if left untreated.
We had a normal casting appointment at the hospital this past Monday. However, Dr. Accousti wanted to do an out of cast X-ray so we could see Salem's progress, something we've only done one other time 6 months ago. He had mentioned the last couple of visits about the possibility of a break, some time out of the cast, and we were waiting to see the progress of this X-ray before we made the decision. A break sounded like a good thing, but I was nervous. I didn't want her to have a break for a month or two only to have to put another cast back on and confuse her. A technician came to the room to cut the cast off and she stayed much calmer than I expected. She went for the X-ray, then we waited in the room...for a while. As she sat and watched TV, she wiggled and squirmed not knowing how to move. She acted unsure of herself. When I touched her back, feeling her spine, she jumped from the sensitivity I suppose. The only thing that has touched that skin for almost a year has been a cast.
The nurse came back in and said we would re-cast. We wanted to see the X-ray but I was a little releived that I wouldn't have to make that hard decision, or worse, disagree with the doctor's. Dr. Accousti waited for us downstairs and I was able to see the X-ray. (See all below.)
Salem's first X-ray about a year ago, February 2015, with a 62 degree curve.
Salem's first out of cast X-ray, August 2015. She was already on the loopy meds so had to get it sitting down. Curve was around 50 degrees.
Salem's out of cast X-ray standing, February 2016, showing about a 32 degree curve.
To show correction to date, right is Aug 2015, left is Feb 2016. Both taken out of cast.
So Salem is in her sixth cast. We're very happy with the correction so far, from 62 to 32 degrees in almost a year, and are so thankful for casting as a treatment option. We appreciate the continued encouragement and prayers from our friends and family. To limit the amount of radiation, we'll likely wait around 6 more months to get another out of cast X-ray. But we are so hopeful that it will be even better! Below are a few more pictures.
The babies playing in the room
Salem's back in between casts on Monday
The babies playing 😍
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