Never think you are ahead of the game

It has been an interesting week...
Last week when we went to the Orthotist for Summer to be fitted for her new AFO, it was beginning of the emails flying back and forth from our PT here in North Bay, our PT in Toronto, her team, and our Orthotist here to discuss a plan for Summer.

Summer has been through a significant growth spurt and there is marked shortening of her achilles in her right foot. Combined with leg length discrepancy (LLD), we need to decide how to proceed. Our PTs and Orthotist have been discussing all the technical aspects of the AFO and options around that. But last Wednesday the term 'serial casting' was brought up for the first time.

My heart dropped.

Serial casting is where the patient (Summer) receives botox in her calf and then her leg is casted for three weeks with two recastings at one week and two weeks. Each cast puts the foot/leg into a further stretch focussed on lengthening the tendon. (kind of like when an adult 'blows their achilles').

But it is summer.

After several discussions, and a couple of tears with our PT here in North Bay, I understand that for one of the first times, we may choose to postpone a therapy choice. Usually an option is given to us and we go for it, even when it will be challenging in terms of time, effort, travel, etc..

We are still to have the Team conference call to discuss treatment plan, but at this time, I just can't take away Summer's summer. Our PT assures us that Family Life should always be a consideration when choosing how to proceed. And it may not seem like we are really in a dilemma but we are. If we are to proceed with serial casting, I am hoping that waiting until the fall waiting will not have a huge adverse affect.

I know there will never be a great time for something like this, and I am not sure about how much of a choice we have, so we'll have to see what comes out of the plan.

Meanwhile, I am making sure Summer gets 2-3 heel cord stretches everyday. Usually I can distract her enough while she is brushing her teeth. I am running out of tricks though.

Besides having this on our minds we had a great weekend with some beach time, swimming, boat ride and even a little gardening

At the moment this evening, Don is teaching Summer how to play monopoly. The last couple of days she has been obsessed about money, so we thought it was a good way to work on her numbers etc. Maybe she will be an accountant when she grows up. I am not sure who is having more fun...