Hi everyone,

Summer had her spica changed last Thurs and the xrays looked good. The spica will definatley come off in 5 weeks on Monday (3 Dec). She now has hot purple fibreglass instead of plaster and her legs are not positioned as wide as before. It isn't fun to see your baby go under anesthetic and come out at the end of it but it was a little easier this time. She actually woke on her way back from surgery and the nurse came to the waiting room asking for Summer's mummy with her crying in her arms. She settled pretty quickly.

Summer has been fitted for her brace and will go into that when she comes out of the spica. I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel (well this bit anyway) and am starting to perpare myself for her to be in the brace for 6 months. My specialist initially said 3-6 months so will not set my sights of her coming out of it for her first birthday in March.

Kartier - my heart bleeds for you as I know how disappointed I was to learn that Summer needed the spica then brace for 6-9 months all up (when she was already nearly 6 months of age). Our bubs are also that bit older and we are seeing their development delayed which is the hardest thing of all. I'm sure you're like me in that you wonder what DD would be doing at this point and compare her to other babies at her age. Its a normal thing I guess. I know its hard to see now but when she is older you will look back and be glad that the problem was fixed. I do wonder why the treatment (ie. spica or brace and length of time) seems to be so different for all DD's. There just doesn't seem to be much consistency from people's stories. Hang in there and keep up the good work.

Susan - thanks for the tips on the clothing. I think I'll just wait to see what position her legs will be in etc. Summer will be in the brace until she's 1 or more which at this time is a little hard to accept when their development is so delayed. I am hoping that Summer will learn to roll again, crawl and maybe walk in the brace. What is the rhino brace?

Just wondering if anyone is being treated in Syd by Michael Bellemore (head of orthopaedics at Westmead). Might try and catch up on our next visit in Dec.

Does anyone have any experience of what to expect when DD goes from spica to brace (DB orthosis with waist and leg straps)? Also can anyone recommend a good high chair that works with the brace?

Keep on soldiering on everyone. Everyone seems to have their good and bad days which I think we would have anyway if they weren't in their spicas/braces. Our kids are very special and we all deserve a pat on the back for all the special care required.

Until next time...