While we were going around the hospital for the scans, we got a call from Jo at UT Television. Doc L has commissioned a documentary on hemipelvectomies and Alan was one of the four patients chosen to be featured. There was a bit of a scramble when they realized that Alan was coming in today and wouldn't be back for another three months. Unless they delayed finishing the production they had to speak to us and film Alan today.
They met us at the Sarcoma Center waiting room to talk about Alan's case and let us know how the afternoon would progress. They started with an interview with Judy once an exam room opened up. It turns out that Jo is also doing a piece on The Rotary House, so she had Judy do a segment on our stay there as well.
They reset the exam room for our consultation with Doc L's PA Kristi, then got footage of Alan waiting with us in the exam room and our visit with Kristi. We got to see a copy of the scans, clean! and read the report. No evidence of tumor recurrence and nothing unusual. Kristi did a physical examination and was happy with his range of motion.
While we were waiting to see Doc L, the documentary team took footage of Alan walking up and down the hall. Doc L eventually came in with one of her fellows, then Kristi and and the nurse squeezed into the already crowded room. Alan said "One more!"
Doc L and Kristi had a chance to watch Alan walk while Judy was being interviewed, but now they watched him walk with the brace off. Doc L checked how his bad leg bent and kicked and we mentioned that we had seen very little movement of his foot or knee. Although the leg brace is articulated, Doc L wants Lorenzo to remove hip brace from AFO, so Alan will be forced to use his leg more and start bending his knee. Alan will only have the AFO on his foot. She will also talk with Mr. Marc about concentrating the PT on bending his knee (by getting the tibialis anterior muscle to fire).
We had mentioned our concerns about Alan walking without the support of the brace, especially since Lorenzo had mentioned the theoretical possibility of tearing his femoral artery if the femur shifted and knicked it. Doc L told us that Alan still has his femoral head, so there is no surface that would pose a danger. There is little chance of injury to the femoral artery, at least no more than any other child his age. Since Alan has been walking without the brace (usually during lazy mornings that the family spends in PJs), she wants him to walk with just the AFO in order to encourage those leg muscles to further develop.
A successful visit! We will be back in January for the next set of scans and exam with Doc L.
Finally beginning to perk up, Alan drinks some milk.
Alan's scan - no tumor!
Alan and Kristi make some finger letters.
Watching Sponge Bob while we wait for Doc L.
On the way home with a snack.
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