A family day together. Getting ready for orthopedic surgery

Left Foot posterior release, med column lengthening and lateral column shortening

The decision about Cassie having orthopedic surgery has been a difficult one. The decision to proceed has involved many people. Cassie and I went to the orthopedic clinic at Mcmaster Children's Hospital and we saw Dr. Sarah Burrows, her resident doctor and the physiotherapist who attends the clinic. We had not seen Dr. Burrows in eight months. Quite quickly into the assessment Dr. Burrows asked me if I was going to let her fix Cassie's foot. We have seen this doctor every year and I half expected her to say see you next year! I listened carefully to all she had to say, asked lots of questions and then went home to talk to Chris. Chris also phoned the doctor to hear about the surgery, what it involved and was active in the decision making process. Dr. Burrows is extremely understanding and kind. In the last year Cassie has had a number of assessments and treatments including the movement lab, trials of botox and video taping she has also done physiotherapy and we have worked hard at home stretching her foot. Dr. Burrow has determined that it is an appropriate time to try to correct the foot position and that the surgery is needed. As parents we had a difficult time deciding because Cassie has had a terrible time with the Botox procedures. Again, our family has pulled together, remained strong and steadfast. Cassie has accepted that she is having surgery and is starting to think about how she will get around in her wheelchiar. Dr. Burrows seems to feel Cassie has matured and nine is a good age and she has been quite reassuring that Cassie can cope. I appreciate all the postive reassurance she has given us. Sharon Carr saw Cassie at the Prothetics and Orthotics department. She adjusted Cassie's foot brace. She used a model of a foot to explain the surgery (very helpful) and she measured and took pictures of Cassie's foot presurgery. Cassie will be non-weight bearing for four weeks on her left foot after her operation. She will stay in Mcmaster Childrens hospital for two nights.
The surgeon will put four pins into her foot and she will have a cast. After the pins are pulled out a new foot brace is made. I am not too sure if Cassie will be able to learn crutches because of her weak hand, but we will for sure have a wheelchair and she is excited about being pushed around (princess Cassie). I am starting to make plans and have phoned her school therapists and have asked the principal for extra EA help. We are anxiously awaiting a surgery date and it looks like it will be March or April. Cassie will have the cast off by summer!!
We are moving forward, accepting what is to come and supporting our beautiful girl through the anxiety she faces with another medical procedure.
God Bless you darling girl. We love you very much and we cant wait to see your foot and hopefully it helps your walking and that you are pleased.

Written by Tylor Bugarjia-Brock Age 14 for an assignment for grade 9

Tylor Bugarija-Brock

There are lots of hero's in life. Movie stars, sports stars, police officers, teachers, firemen and many more but my hero is A nine year old girl and her name is Cassie Fruck. She is my Aunt Kate’s youngest daughter. Cassie lives in Ancaster and we see her and her big sister Julia, Mom and Dad all of the time.

They have a trailer on the lake where my Grama’s trailer is . Cassie loves to ride her bike, play on the swings and in the play ground. She took private swimming lessons last year and over came her big fear of water. Now she jumps in and splashes and laughs. Cassie is friendly to everyone. She says everybody is her friend. She has big brown eyes and she smiles and laughs a lot. She wants to do all of the things I do. I help her with basket ball, jumping on our trampoline and she likes to play baseball with me. I ride my bike around the park and she goes with me. She has a special bike , but she still needs to work hard pedalling to get anywhere.

Cassie wears a brace on her left leg and foot and has a hand brace. She was born with Cerebal palsy. Cass had a bleed in her brain before she was born. After birth they had to do surgery on Cass and put a thing called a shunt in her brain to let off the fluid. On the x-ray we could see the big hole in part of her brain. She got real sick and just about died a couple of months later. They changed the shunt and that saved her. Cassie did not learn to walk for a long time. She has had different casts on and off of her hand and foot She goes to therapy every week and has done this for years. She has to practice everything that I do easily over and over to be able to get it right. She has spent alot of time in hospitols and Doctor’s offices .

The reason Cassie is my hero is she never lets life get to her. She tries hard to do everything and she is happy when she can do even a little bit of what she is trying to do. She never complains that she can not do stuff. She always says she will try harder, no matter how hard she is already trying. Cassie may not grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer but I know Cassie will grow up to do things that help other peoples life be better. That is why my cousin Cassie is my hero.

Tylor in the blue hat holding his younger sister Sarah. All the cousins at Christmas. Cassie to the right holding her youngest cousin Bella. Carly, Julia, Cole and Emily.