Brace Yourself!
Sorry, I couldn't resist that one. Some of you may know that Salem has been in a brace since September.
Her doctor has wanted her to have a break from the cast for a while now, to allow her ribs and chest to grow uninhibitedly. In August, after her spine had measured at about 32 degrees at the previous appointment and 37 currently, we finally decided that she would have the cast removed and be fitted for a brace. She spent two weeks with nothing holding her little torso while we waited for the brace to be shipped. Initially, she had trouble walking straight without the cast and treated upper-body movements as if it was still there.
At the beginning of September, Salem got her brace. It took her almost no time to get used to it, and only asked once or twice for us to take it off. She really adapted well. For two months, she has worn the brace for most of the day/night, getting a small break in the morning and one in the evening after dinner.
The decision we had made was for her to wear the brace for two months and then take the next step based on the results of a new X-ray. If the X-ray showed her curve had not changed much, we would have a new cast placed that visit. If the X-ray showed the curve had improved, we would keep the brace for a bit longer. So, she slept without the brace the night before the appointment earlier this month to give her spine time to relax. We drove to New Orleans way before the sun rose since it was possible casting would be done that day.
Her X-ray showed her spine at 26 degrees!!
So we skipped the cast and we'll have another appointment in January to check it again. This was such great news, and we're optimistic that God is allowing her spine to be completely corrected by these treatments.
Thanks again for all the prayers and support!
Jenny
Her doctor has wanted her to have a break from the cast for a while now, to allow her ribs and chest to grow uninhibitedly. In August, after her spine had measured at about 32 degrees at the previous appointment and 37 currently, we finally decided that she would have the cast removed and be fitted for a brace. She spent two weeks with nothing holding her little torso while we waited for the brace to be shipped. Initially, she had trouble walking straight without the cast and treated upper-body movements as if it was still there.
Wearing her brace out right after having it fitted
At the beginning of September, Salem got her brace. It took her almost no time to get used to it, and only asked once or twice for us to take it off. She really adapted well. For two months, she has worn the brace for most of the day/night, getting a small break in the morning and one in the evening after dinner.
The decision we had made was for her to wear the brace for two months and then take the next step based on the results of a new X-ray. If the X-ray showed her curve had not changed much, we would have a new cast placed that visit. If the X-ray showed the curve had improved, we would keep the brace for a bit longer. So, she slept without the brace the night before the appointment earlier this month to give her spine time to relax. We drove to New Orleans way before the sun rose since it was possible casting would be done that day.
Her X-ray showed her spine at 26 degrees!!
The right X-ray was from September after having the cast removed
The left X-ray was from November after being in the brace
So we skipped the cast and we'll have another appointment in January to check it again. This was such great news, and we're optimistic that God is allowing her spine to be completely corrected by these treatments.
Thanks again for all the prayers and support!
Jenny
Enjoying a brace break
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