Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A Trip to the Fracture clinic and a new Purple Cast
We went to Mcmaster Fracture clinic and they removed Cassie's Cast. The foot has two pins and three incisions. They washed the foot and looked at the surgical incisions. The foot seems to be healing well. There is not alot of swelling and the incisions look intact. Cassie got to pick the color of the next cast. Dr. Burrows recasted her in with this bright purple!! We go again May 3, 2010.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Recovery and Visits from Friends
Cassie is so glad to be home. Julia is so glad to have Cassie home. Julia and Laura could hardly wait to see Cassie. Laura brought Cassie Get Well Balloons which we tied to the wheelchair. Laura says " Don't float away Cassie!".
Aunt Helen was first to arrive. She came with her sharp sewing scissors and we cut us some old pants to fit over the cast. Thanks Aunt Helen.
Cassie's friend Shelby and her older sister Kelsey arrived with two cool magazines about Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus. Shelby kept Cassie amused for almost two hours. Thanks Shelby!! You are a terri
fic friend.Cassie with her Dad and Dog after a warm shower which felt so good! Cassie is doing well hoping around with a walker and some supervision. I think the walker may strengthen up the weak left hand. Yes I am always thinking of ways to do more therapy.
We are welcoming some more company this weekend to keep Cassie entertained!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Day Two in the hospital
Cassie's physiotherapist and her student physiotherapist Kyra. Learning how to move without weight bearing on left foot in the physio gym at Mcmaster Children's hospital.
Day two in hospital. Cassie did great, woke every few hours for her pain meds, vital signs and a check of her foot. She easily fell back asleep in between after the exhaustion of the first day. Roommate number 2 was a 71/2 girl named Jamie who unfortunately fell at the playground and fractured her arm. The same orthopedic surgeon did surgery on Jamie's arm. Reminds me as a parent how quickly an accident can happen. Dr. Burrows visited Cassie twice. A nice surprise was Dr. Gorter visited Cassie as well. Thanks for the warm wishes Dr. Gorter. He says we will repeat the motion lab after the recovery. It will be fun to see the improvements in the foot position and walking abilities. Cassie did so well we were able to go home. Mom and her had already learned how to transfer before the physio even arrived. A huge amount of the day was spent by Chris looking to rent some pediatric equipment. Walker, wheelchair and some bathroom equipment. Cassie was not eligible for CCAC so we had to pay for the pieces. A tribute to how well she does but unfortunate as the pieces cost around $200. 00 for the month. Craig from Shoppers Home health hooked us up and rushed the delivery so we could be discharged home at 4:00pm. The first walker with a forearm support did not work for Cassie, the hospital had no crutches or walkers to try out while we were there. I think I will give feedback to the therapists that they should have some equipment available to try but 3C is not straight orthopedics and we had no equipment and there was too much clutter trying to get a commode to the washroom which was in the hall not in the child's room. Things went too well to let small things annoy us. Chris took the prescription for pain meds to Shoppers ahead of time and it was a good thing because they would not fill the script as it lacked some information. A few glitches, but they were rectified with perseverance. Craig from Shoppers picked up the one walker, switched it for another and we rented a commode as our bathroom is too small for a wheelchair and walker. It was amazing to get home so quick and Cassie is doing well.
A view of the nursing station from Cassie's bed. We ran into numerous other professionals that know Cassie Susan from the Infant Parent Program recognized me right away. She had not seen Cassie for eight years. A friend from work has a baby who has been admitted for six weeks and some friends from church who's beautiful daughter Hannah has a brain tumor. We have Hannah in our thoughts and prayers and her entire family. It is difficult to know why some children have to suffer and please pray for this beautiful child.
Day two in hospital. Cassie did great, woke every few hours for her pain meds, vital signs and a check of her foot. She easily fell back asleep in between after the exhaustion of the first day. Roommate number 2 was a 71/2 girl named Jamie who unfortunately fell at the playground and fractured her arm. The same orthopedic surgeon did surgery on Jamie's arm. Reminds me as a parent how quickly an accident can happen. Dr. Burrows visited Cassie twice. A nice surprise was Dr. Gorter visited Cassie as well. Thanks for the warm wishes Dr. Gorter. He says we will repeat the motion lab after the recovery. It will be fun to see the improvements in the foot position and walking abilities. Cassie did so well we were able to go home. Mom and her had already learned how to transfer before the physio even arrived. A huge amount of the day was spent by Chris looking to rent some pediatric equipment. Walker, wheelchair and some bathroom equipment. Cassie was not eligible for CCAC so we had to pay for the pieces. A tribute to how well she does but unfortunate as the pieces cost around $200. 00 for the month. Craig from Shoppers Home health hooked us up and rushed the delivery so we could be discharged home at 4:00pm. The first walker with a forearm support did not work for Cassie, the hospital had no crutches or walkers to try out while we were there. I think I will give feedback to the therapists that they should have some equipment available to try but 3C is not straight orthopedics and we had no equipment and there was too much clutter trying to get a commode to the washroom which was in the hall not in the child's room. Things went too well to let small things annoy us. Chris took the prescription for pain meds to Shoppers ahead of time and it was a good thing because they would not fill the script as it lacked some information. A few glitches, but they were rectified with perseverance. Craig from Shoppers picked up the one walker, switched it for another and we rented a commode as our bathroom is too small for a wheelchair and walker. It was amazing to get home so quick and Cassie is doing well.
A view of the nursing station from Cassie's bed. We ran into numerous other professionals that know Cassie Susan from the Infant Parent Program recognized me right away. She had not seen Cassie for eight years. A friend from work has a baby who has been admitted for six weeks and some friends from church who's beautiful daughter Hannah has a brain tumor. We have Hannah in our thoughts and prayers and her entire family. It is difficult to know why some children have to suffer and please pray for this beautiful child.
Cassie had fun text'ing her cousins and friends to let them know she was alright!A very special visitor Pastor Frank from our church St Johns Evangelical Lutheran on Hughson in Hamilton. The same church did fund raising for Cassie to attend Ability camp and receive some uncovered medical treatments. Pastor Frank made Cassie smile, visited with us and said prayers for healing. Thanks very much Pastor Frank. You are a special man!!
Cassie enjoyed taking pictures of her own foot and cast!!
Awake after surgery
Cassie allowed Daddy to walk her to the OR and allowed Mommy to help wake her up in recovery. The staff warmly invited me into the Post Anesthetic Care unit (PACU). All children react differently to anethesia but Cassie seems to react well. Dr. Burrows met us in the waiting room before I entered and she told us Cassie was already awake and doing well! The nurse continually assessed Cassie's pain and responded promptly to her needs. Cassie's length of stay in this unit was short.
Dr. Burrows told both parents she felt the surgery was successful. She has some further ideas regarding another treatment involving muscle stimulation for her left foot. I think she stated there are only two wires into the foot instead of four pins like we were expecting. She said the foot appeared to line up really nicely. They inserted a pain block into the left foot and thus Cassie had no pain in her left foot. The block lasted eight hours and made post op Day one pretty easy. Cassie was moved into a room on 3C. It is really an experience staying in a pediatric ward. Lots of noise, crying children and babies, lights, nurses and families living in close proximity. I had stayed on the unit for six weeks when Cassie had a shunt infection and somehow I got used to this commotion but I found it very exhausting this time around. Cassie's first roomate was a baby girl 7 weeks old named Kennedy but she was being discharged so we did not get to know this family. It was glorious having the room to ourselves, Chris rearranged the furniture and found me a more comfortable chair that made a cot. We also confiscated the remote control for the big screen TV. This is a nice luxury that was not there during our last stay. Very good to distract children who are recovering.
I picture of the nice white cast. Cassie was told to keep it elevated on pillows and she did a good job following orders. There was a oxygen saturation monitor on the big toe and it was easy to check CSM. Colour, Sensation and movement often.
Some bannana popsicles helped wet the dry whistle almost as soon as we arrived. The red candy cane gown was quiet cute as well. Cassie would not use her weak hand while the IV was in, I think it freaked her out because it was positional and the pump kept beeping.
Supportive Grammy back at the bedside amusing Cassie with her Camera
Club Foot Surgery Day April 6, 2010 at 0800am
We were up at 0530 and at the hospital at 0630. Cassie had some nerves but having Grammy arrive at our house made the world of difference. Grammy kept Cassie amused with stories, pictures from her camera and songs. Grammy had been to all Cassie's pre-op visits at Mcmaster Children's hospital with the child life worker Tara. Grammy is Cassie's special safe person and Chris and I are forever indebted to her for all her assistance. You are a very very special Grammy. Words cant express how much you are loved and appreciated.Cassie's Oma visited the night before the surgery and brought Cassie a comfort bear and lots of love and kind words as well. Grammy always says what is better than one Grammy "Two Grammy's " Thanks for your support wonderful grandmothers.
Cassie found bravery for each step of the OR process, she had quiet tears and sobs into mommy but only when no one was looking. Here Cassie is ready and she found comfort laying on her Daddy. Big Strong comforting Daddy. Chris did the more difficult job of walking her into the OR. The team was excellent they know Cassie has needle phobia and they gave her a mask to put her to sleep. Cassie cried but had no real melt downs and was in Sleepy land before she knew it. Thanks to the wonderful staff and the Pediatric Family Support program at the Children's hospital for understanding our girls fears and helping make things go smoothly.
The Pediatric Family Support Program are leaders in family centered care. The program allows a parent to be present in the operating room and Chris was present while Cassie went through the anesthetic induction. They were very sensitive to Cassie's needle phobia and used a mask to administer anesthetic and did the IV once Cassie was asleep. Three children all waited together and Cassie watched the other children and followed along. The volunteer for the waiting room was also wonderful keeping us informed and helping us find washrooms, coffee and bringing me right in to the PACU recovery unit the minute Cassie was awake.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Some Pictures of Cassie's left foot the day before surgery
Cassie's twisted left foot. Hope to show you some great shots after orthopedic surgery. Cassie has not had even a minutes nerves so far. We go at 0630 and surgery is at 0800am for approximately 3 hours. I will keep you posted on the recovery. Thanks so much for all the well wishes.
Kate
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