The Cast is OFF --- A NEW DAY!!

Arrival at Ortho Carolina (we fell asleep in the car on the way there)

Waiting for someone to come in and see us. (See how she is clinging to her I Pod and Daddy)

The day finally came for the cast to be removed.  We were quite nervous about the whole thing.  Maran flip flopped back and forth between wanting it off and getting to really play and keeping it on so that she could still be carried around.  My arm voted for it to be off and I know Daddy's did as well.  Pretty sure our niece Stephanie voted for OFF too as she has carried Maran around an awful lot! The past eight weeks we have pretty much kept Maran inside and avoided outside due to the heat.  That changed last Friday.  I had her outside most of the day and she played like never before.  She was the dirtiest she has probably EVER been (at least with us) and she had a blast.  Since the cast removal day was then five days away I figured it was fine and that if it ACCIDENTALLY became wet then they would remove it and hopefully keep it off.  Well it didn't get wet but it got a lot of dirt on it and some much needed chainsaw grease and motor oil.  Yes she was helping daddy rebuild his chainsaw.  I am not sure that any gas or oil got INTO the chainsaw for that matter as it seemed Maran had it all on WHAT USED TO BE A PINK CAST.  The cast was not signed until Saturday as we had to keep it clean (or try to) due to graduations, parties and so on. 

She was such a trooper. She was brave and strong and a little scared once the cast was starting to be taken off and after it was off the pain in her knee brought some tears. 

Below are some pictures. I will add that some may be graphic (wow... can you say that on a blog?) So in case you have a queasy tummy.... STOP NOW! (They aren't that bad but I do show you the leg).   

 This is the machine that helps to take the cast off.

Maran is shown how the drill will NOT cut her skin.  The NA actually put the drill to her hand and proved how it will only cut through her cast and WILL NOT GO NEAR her skin.

 The First Drill cut is made into the cast.

 After cutting the cast is peeled away with something that looks like an oversize nutcracker.  Here safety scissors are being used to carefully cut away the gauze.

Removal is interesting and scary at the same time. Peeling away the cast and the gauze.

We are quite fascinated and are

 being quite patient.

 

Separation anxiety from our cast sets in.  We are full of tears and we are scared.  It was the pitiful deep meaning cry that we don't hear very often but when we do it is simply heart breaking. 

 The leg appears and Daddy and Mommy are nervous.  We had no idea what to expect.  No idea of the incisions or anything.  We were pleasantly surprised.

 This is the button on the bottom of the foot.  What it did was anchor (on the outside) the tendon that was transferred across the foot. (The Dr. actually pulled it off with her hand).  It was like a bandaide... kind of weird.

Now I am really upset.  My cast is gone... my knee is hurting and I am just not happy. Not even Daddy can cure this but he can help in trying.

A Resident Dr. shows up and looks at the incisions and says "This looks good. I will have Dr. Casey come in and look and we will decide how high the cast will go and about a boot". I gasp knowing that we are going on vacation in 4 days and cringe thinking "ANOTHER CAST"? I said very quickly "We vote for a boot". Dr. Resident leaves and I say to Daddy "If they want to do a cast then we will come back in a week and get it". I could not imagine putting Maran through a cruise and beaches with a cast on. It just was NOT going to happen. I start to plan our escape from this office as my stomach is churning and I am just all over the room wondering "What did I miss about the surgery details especially the POST SURGERY procedure(s)?" Dr. Casey arrives and looks at the leg and is extremely happy with the outcome. She has Maran move her toes, her foot, bend her knee and so on". She quickly says.. "OK see you in six weeks - she can go swimming and have fun." Sheeewwwwwww nannnnnnyyyyyyyyyyy! She then said at the six week point we will decide if we need therapy or a boot or anything further.  She also looked at her right leg and said that typically the 'BAD' leg is the larger of the two but that in Maran's case her bad leg is the smaller of the two.  The left leg is significantly smaller (skinnier).  The left foot is almost one whole size smaller than the right.  It MAY OR MAY NOT catch up in growth.  Stride Rite prefers it to NOT catch up but Mommy feels differently.  Every dime we spend on her is worth it but it does get a little icky when you buy two pairs of shoes and get only one pair.  (Yes we have to buy two different sizes because of the huge difference in each foots size).  MORE THAN WORTH it to keep her feet in as good of shape as possible for sure but not so good when you get a pair and literally they are too small in a month.  However, if this doesn't work itself out then it will be fine... she will be worth it all the same! 

We leave the Dr.'s office sporting an Elmo sticker (it was all they had and believe me she would NOT have picked Elmo.. sorry Elmo).  We offer her ice cream, a frosty, chicken nuggets and candy but she decides that she only wants a Sprite... A SPRITE... the child is offered anything and she chooses SPRITE!  Bless this child!!!

What's the Outlook? 

• Six week visit will tell us if therapy is needed.
• Her right leg will MORE THAN LIKELY heal itself with growth.
• She will be good as new in a few weeks.

The TENDON TRANSFER so far was a success!  What a happy day!!!  Our daughter is on her way to being able to walk without falling down all the time.  I am sure she will NOT miss the intimate relationship she has had with the floors and cement since birth.  She will walk now and people will not stare at her because of her club feet they will just stare because she is so stinkin' cute.  The staring and falling down NEVER bothered her. It bothered me because it made me sad and I was so scared that she would get hurt. 

This child is just a joy.  She asked only ONCE for her cast to be taken off.  After surgery she complained of pain only once.  After the cast was off she cried and said her knee hurt but did so only once.  She has a high tolerance for pain and just deals with things....much like I am guessing she dealt with things in the orphanage. 

When we got home Luke came running up to her and hugged her.  God has blessed us with two very beautiful and loving children.  I don't really know what life would be like without them and don't want to know.  Life before them is like non-existent.  They are what matters and the love they have given to us is the best ever.  There is no better love than that of a child.  At bedtime Luke hugged Maran again and told her that he loved her.  She said "I love you too Luke".  Luke has been truly concerned about Maran and her leg and this show of concern is just adorable.  It will more than likely be gone in a day as we wouldn't want to put that sibling rivalry to rest this early in the game.

Lighten your heart and enjoy the laughter and love of a child.