Saw Dr Van Bosse this morning after our 11 month wait!!! It went well, much like all the other appointments we have had meeting with a new orthopedic MD and they do a full exam then tell us the recommendations. Although, today even hearing stuff all over again, it felt much different since I knew I was talking to someone who I trusted to treat things. I will say, the list was longer then I expected.
For her feet - he said she did have some good degree of movement, however he doesnt feel they are perfectly aligned. He recommends another 6 or so casts and possibly another heel cord release. We talked alot about if we should do a cast today then another one friday before going home but he really wanted to be able to have time to make her some new braces and I cant stay into next week. So, we utimately decided not to cast today.
For her hips - her left one needs to be re-located which isnt new news. He likes to do them as close to 18 months as possible, dylann is 19. He talked to his nurse while I was there and discussed his surgical schedule flexibility. When I made this appt 11 months ago, his surgical wait was 2 years so I assumed the earliest she would be able to see him for her hip would be next spring. He said they are working to get her in for October! He also said her right hip, while not dislocated, is tight. He would like to do a tendon release around the same time as the hip surgery to gain some more motion.
For her knees- he said that he doesnt do surgery until kids are 4 on knees. He would like to make her taller braces after her feet are realigned that help stabalize her knees in the mean time. The surgery would be to release the tendon on her left and then on her right, he would add some plates that would impact the growth plates so that as she grows, the knee will naturally align and then they remove the plates when the knee has gained some straightening. Amazing.
We spent alot of time talking about how this works for out of state folks as I know many of his clients travel very far to see him. Recently I heard Peru. He said once the surgery date is picked, he can do 2 casts during a 5 day stay, then maybe two more in MPLS with my current MD, then do 2 more while we are out there for her hip surgery. That would be a 1.5-2 week visit then. He said she could go home after her IP hospitalization until her 6 week follow up where she would come back to get her body cast changed.
Dylann also saw the upper extremity specialist just to make sure they didnt have any recommendations. They didnt at this point. She still has mild affect to her fingers and wrists but that effect is still better then what they can usually correct for anyways. she suspects the little issues Dylann does have will just continue to get better as she uses them and strethes them.
Dylann was a trooper but by the end when someone new walked in, would just yell "bye bye". :) She feel asleep waiting for our cab ride back and didnt wake up while I transferred her into the cab, out of the cab, and into her crib then to wake up soon after pretty exhausted. spent much of the night laying on me until she asked to take a bath. Finally just now got her down for the night.
So obviously Jeremy and I have alot to talk about to see how we can make this work. I initially thought I would be considering one or two visits for her hip next year.. now its a discussion of probably 3-5 visits between September and November of this year. I really want him to do it. I know he is the best. I know we will find a way.
Dylann and I will be coming back Thursday so just plan to do girls trip for a few days. Having dinner with a coworker tomorrow who works in the Philly office. Got to see Cari and her sweet Jamis today as they were in the clinic too. Some of you met her at Dylanns dash last year. They live up by Morris and her AMCer is a little younger than Dylann and also sees Dr V. Making a little AMC family!
Ok, time for sleep!
