Post Spica Cast Thirteen Weeks

We finished off Week Three of post-op chemo and enjoyed the next morning launching rockets. On Tuesday, we went back to Lorenzo to check the fit of Alan's new hip brace. Lorenzo does a great job as it fit perfectly, so he attached it to the AFO so Alan now has hip-to-toe support. Another bonus of the new brace arrangement is that it keeps Alan's leg from falling into a turned out position. We have been propping it in place with a rolled up towel while he is seated in the car seat or stroller so the muscle will not stiffen in the shortened position, but having it held in place by the brace is ideal as he has the foot in the right position for walking too. The brace also holds his leg long enough so a lift in his right shoe is not needed.

After riveting the AFO to the rest of the brace, we put it on Alan and took it for a test run up and down the hall. We held Alan by the hands while we encouraged him to walk. He figured out pretty quickly that the brace gave him some support, but he is still trying to figure out what to do with it. Lorenzo did not lock the hip and knee joints so they can still bend with his leg and hip. Keeping them locked would have made things easier in the short run since it would give Alan a stiff leg to walk on, but would be a disadvantage in the long run. It will take Alan longer to re-learn how to walk while figuring out how to move his leg, but it will be a more natural gait, and moving his leg means the muscles will fire - all the better for his recovery.

Mr. Marc checked the fit during Alan's PT session the next day and watched him walk in it using one of the boys' chairs as a makeshift walker. He was very happy with how Alan was moving and was ready to order a walker to encourage him. We will be getting a Mini Pacer gait trainer in lime green - hopefully within the next couple of weeks. Once it arrives, Mr. Marc suggests we take Alan to a mall in the mornings to walk up and down the halls.

Auntie Karen, having watched Alan make letters over and over again with tongue depressers last week, brought him a big bag of popsicle sticks. Alan tore right into the bag and started making up the whole alphabet all at once! He was able to get up to "R" before he ran out.

Alan's appetite has decreased somewhat - not surprising since he has finished up a round of chemo. While his intake of his favourite chocolate nutritional drink has gone down somewhat, he has been eating more and more real food. He continues to enjoy cheese sticks and last night, seeing Kevin eat broccoli, Alan asked for "flowers" and proceeded to eat several tablespoons of the broccoli florets. Add that to fries, hamburger buns, ice cream and yoghurt and pretty soon we're talking about some real food. He wants to eat and is definitely curious about food. A sensitive gag reflex seems to be holding him back. We're not sure whether it's a physical problem that we'll need an OT or SLP to help us with, or if it's a residual effect of nausea brought on by chemo. It's not a well-rounded diet yet, but we're getting there!



Watching Daddy launch model rockets


So many letters to make!


"A" through "R"! We need more popsicle sticks!