The cast is off...now what?

Kait: I have been worrying about Jake's follow up appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Fletcher off and on for weeks. It's been in the back of my head and pops up here and there, like when Jake asks if he can play soccer. I am looking forward to him playing but more importantly I want him to walk. I realize I am complaining, but Jake is almost four and he's getting heavy. We have to carry him to and from the bathroom, to the table, to get dressed, basically anywhere he needs to go within the house. Maybe I'm just getting weaker. He has his little wheelchair which was designed by someone with a sense of humor. The handles for us to push are as short as the chair...back breaker! We get him to practice wheeling himself but he gets tired easily and from what I hear its not an easy thing to do.

Eleven weeks have gone by since surgery. What should we expect for the next eleven? We arrived at Jakes's appointment and first thing was to remove the cast. He started screaming and yelling "no, don't do it!" I asked if he was worried that they would cut his skin and he said yes. We explained, once again, that the saw cannot cut his skin and from then on he just watched. He cried (in pain, confusion, discomfort?) once the cast came off and refused to set his leg down on the table.

We were sent back to the waiting room to wait for x-rays next. Jake cried for Randy to carry him while holding his foot or leg in the air. I guess after having it in some sort of cast for so long it feels very strange to have it breathe. He completed the X-ray and then we waited for the surgeon to come discuss them with us. The X-rays look very similar to the ones from the day of the surgery. His two plates and fifteen screws are still in place and exactly how they were put in that day. Dr. Fletcher is concerned with two things at this point: that the plates and screws are not bent and that his growth plates are not closed. If his growth plates close for some reason then his leg would stop growing and would be cause for further surgery and decisions down the road. Thank God that both of these things are exactly how the Dr wants them to be! From the X-ray is doesn't appear that his bone is fusing with donor bone yet, which is to be expected. This type of surgery takes a very long time to heal, especially since the size of the bone they removed was so large.  I was hoping that Jake would be allowed to start weight bearing sooner than the original projection of November, but after this visit no such luck.  We go back in three months for more X-rays and hopefully then we'll see some progress.  Jake is to begin gentle physical therapy twice a week for eight weeks.  He is allowed to take off the boot to bathe and swim, but otherwise it should be on.  There is a possibility of his Achilles tendon tightening up too much without help of the boot and PT.  We were told that sometimes surgery is needed to fix the problem but not to worry about that because it is a minor surgery in comparison to what he's been through already. 

His skin is very thick and peely, but the incision looks good

We waited for Jake to be fitted with his boot and then we were headed home.  He is very happy with his boot that looks GIANT on his tiny leg :)  I feel like I did after his surgery...worried about hurting him or carrying him wrong.  I assume that in a few days I'll feel more comfortable.  Until then I'll keep faking it.  Show no fear!  

Jake is our superman.  He goes through so much and still keeps smiling.  We are so lucky to have our three wonderful children, and that through undesirable circumstances we are able to share them with the world.  We will make it through this and we'll be closer and stronger because of it. 

©K&C Photography