As the title suggests.......... My little boy is FINALLY going to get his much-needed surgery! An achilles release (treatment for clubfoot) He will finally be able to walk, and progress as normal. It's been heartbreaking to watch him being left behind while all the other kids his age are running rings around him. I feel awful for saying it, but it's been hard for me. I can't imagine how frustrating and hard it is for him!
The date is set - March 14. Ironically this was also his due date. I'm a bit sad he'll be stuck in a plaster cast for his birthday, and a long time after that......... but it's for the best. I will have a walking child. Whilst I'm afraid of the surgery, and staying overnight in hospital with him etc, I need to be strong for him. I just want him to be free of his disability. On a selfish note, I'm struggling to carry him around with my growing belly..... he's bloody heavy!
And I also want to thank the universe for not handing us a life-sentence. He'll be cured, he won't remember this, and he won't be the different kid for much longer. I am so much luckier than some. This is what I tell myself every day.
Everyone send my DS lots of brave big-boy vibes and virtual hugs. We're coming to the end of a very long road. Well, maybe not the end, just turning a corner onto a new avenue of treatment and development.
Wonderful news that your boy is going to be able to walk and run after this! Rotten timing for the op but at least there is an end date. Sending you strength for the hospital stay and his recovery, it's tough seeing your child in pain xx
I'm so pleased your little man is getting his surgery. Im sure by his next birthday he'll be running, jumping and dancing enough to make up for this year!
I'm nervous about seeing him in pain and uncomfortable, but I'm excited about seeing him fulfil his potential. I don't think it'll take long for him to be up and walking - he already is, just not unassisted. We have some little coffee tables on wheels which he pushes around in front to steady himself, and various ride-on toys too which help.
As a sidenote, he is the MEANEST little racecar driver I've ever seen, as a result of his non-walking.... lol. He can even drift around corners, and steers like a champ! He's a very adaptable little dude. The surgeon expects him to walk with his cast on....... so pretty much immediately.
And I understand you wanting him to be able to get up and keep up with his mates. I have a late walker - due to hypermobility, and my heart used to constantly break as he whizzed around crawling, and all his little friends were running around.
He had been walking holding onto things for ages but about a month ago (19months) he started walking unassisted - and he now thinks he can run! The change in him so quickly is astounding - and watching him improve daily is womderful.
But be prepared (not that you will mind!) - i've gone from carrying him - to chasing him very quickly!
Quick update while my chubby little guy is napping.
Surgery is done. It's over! We stayed in overnight and came home yesterday morning. I cannot describe the relief and accomplishment I feel knowing it's done, and we made it. It was so so hard seeing my little guy in hospital, scared, and sick after the anesthetic. I did my best to be strong but had a few minor meltdowns at crucial points. Daddy had to take him in to be put under the general as I broke down crying just walking into the little waiting area when it was almost time to go in. I don't know if that's my own residual trauma and fear of operating theatres or just a normal Mama response.
There was a lovely moment when we were called into recovery. I sat down in a chair and he was placed on my lap for a cuddle. He was whimpering and crying a little and I can only assume the baby I'm currently carrying heard the voice of his/her big brother- because there was a flurry of kicking all of a sudden! It was lovely. I snuggled him in close to my belly so he could feel the familiar feeling of 'our baby' kicking away, and told him Mama was here. It reminded me of meeting him properly for the first time in recovery after the c/s. I had a fleeting thought that it would be easier for me to be the one in the hospital bed at this point, than to see him this way.... but I pushed those thoughts aside.
The afternoon was the most difficult part. As the morphine wore off he became increasingly upset and was very sick from the general anesthetic. Poor Dad was vomited on twice.... and had no spare clothes to change into. (I considered packing them but thought we'd be fine... silly me!) It was at this point they decided to hook him back up to his IV to get some fluids in and flush out the drugs. He slept beautifully for me during the night. I was very very grateful for that. I just wanted him to rest!
The difficult parts? Having nurses waking him frequently during the night doing obs. Luckily I was able to soothe him easily... I think he knew it would be a good night to co-operate with me. Sharing a ward with 8-10 other patients and their parents.... some people are very noisy and inconsiderate! Being heavily pregnant and caring for my big baby in hospital..... very hard. I'm quite sore but that's really the least of my worries.
In the morning, I was delighted to hear my little man calling out to me - not crying, just making noises.... and I look up to see him STANDING up in his cot, on his cast..... smiling at me. Awesome. He's already moving around normally and not having any trouble adapting to the weight of it on his leg. He can't walk on it, because it's too heavy and a bit unstable. But he's fine and we're grateful.
The treatment is a bit less extreme than we'd originally thought so I'm very excited about that. He had his achilles cut, as well as a little one under his foot to release the tightness. Also a small incision in his calf again for the tightness of the tendons. Surgeon says his foot went straight to a neutral normal position. Great news. After 2 weeks the cast will be removed and provided he is happy with the position of the foot, we go straight into a single-legged brace/boot type thing. I AM SO EXCITED. Only two weeks? I was expecting a very long casting process........ so this is fantastic. Then we have a review at 6 weeks and go from there.
Thank you everyone for your support..... I just want to jump for joy. I'm so proud of my little boy. He's been so brave, and I'm just so happy that this chapter is finally over. Onwards and upwards from here!
I think it's a totally normal mumma reaction to seeing our babes undergo something like that. I too could t take dd into the OR to go under when she had her surgery..
It never ceases to amaze me how much easier our little people bounce back from something like this than we do...
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