Turn the page. We are starting a new chapter for Miss Josie. This one has to do with her cerebral palsy and our determination to improve her ability to be independently upright & mobile. (You can stop reading here & get the jist my update - or read on for many, more details!!) We are now amongst a handful of Akron Childrens kids who are trying a new to the USA technique of leg bracing. This technique has been used in the UK and Australia for about 10 years. We have chosen this path as Josie is not getting any improvement in the tightness & alignment of her legs, ankles and feet; and is still high risk for ongoing stress fractures due to her tiny bones and the way her feet are not naturally aligned with her knees & ankles. The way Josie walks is actually creating a hinge in the top of her left foot; she has no arch what so ever on her left foot; and on both feet her big toes are turning under more & more. Josie has endured 4 years of leg injections; serial casting of both legs; a few medications; and even a surgery which involved lengthening her heal chords of both legs & casts when she was 2 years old. Yesterday, Josies legs, ankles & feet were measured in ways we never have experienced before and molds were made for her new leg braces. The actual leg braces are just one part of this new technique which also includes the use of wedges under the heel of the braces as well as wedges under new shoes for Miss Josie. The point is to try & adjust Josies feet and ankles into a more natural alignment. We are told an even more A-team approach between our physiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, and orthotic specialist is going to play a huge role over many, many appointments and adjustments in getting Josies new leg braces and shoes just right. These incredible people have had numerous conversations over the past few weeks; and are doing a great job at working on getting our insurance companies to agree to cover these expenses (fingers & toes crossed)!! Our experience and Josies anticipated progress with this new technique is going to serve as a learning tool - and we are very anxious to get started. We have agreed to have Miss Super Star videoed along the way as just one form of documentation which we hope will help further advance this technique for the medical field and future patients.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 17:06:49 +0000
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