Enjoy Summer
In May we had our check up with Dr. Luhman. The xray in her brace was 64. Since we began in the 70s and had casted down to 50, I was worried, however, he said it was fine. He wanted us to let her enjoy her summer. So, we did! She swam, got filthy in the garden, played in the rain, ate lots of messy ice cream and popsicles, took long baths, and many other things that we wouldn't have been able to do in a cast.
Hospital
In June we hit a speed bump. Emerson seems to have some allergy issues (I think I may be at fault for passing that down to her). The last week of school she had developed bronchitis, which we fixed with an antibiotic. Three weeks later she developed pneumonia. She had been struggling with some minor allergy drainage and a little cough. Nothing that I thought was a concern. We took her to watch her sister play a late night softball game and within an hour of being home she was awake, screaming, grabbing her chest. After being up all night with her, hanging out in the steaming bathroom as much as possible, we got a noon appointment with Dr. Cahill. She was a bit shocked at the quickness, since she was at the ball game the night before and saw Emmi playing and laughing like normal. We were sent straight to the hospital and spent 3 days getting antibiotics, breathing treatments, and steroids. Emerson was such a good sport about this especially since she doesn't really like hospitals. If anything started beeping, she would say, "Uh, oh!" and look for the nurse to come in. If her oxygen tube fell out, she would try to push it back in her nose. The staff at Bothwell Regional Health Center took really good care of her and we were released to go home. We also received some really nice gifts while in the hospital. The local Lion's club had a whole bag of goodies for Em to play with and stuff for us to do while in the hospital. Dr. Cahill felt like the pneumonia developed so quickly because of brace restricting her from breathing deeply. Dr. Luhman's office said that her curve wasn't severe enough to cause that, but to not wear it while she was recovering. Lots of mothers in our support group say there is definitely a link between infant scoliosis and breathing issues. We do know that anything with her breathing isn't something to overlook and needs to be taken seriously.
Asthma
During our hospital stay, we used a defibrillator and purchased one to take home. Thank goodness! Throughout the summer we used it periodically when she was struggling to breath. In September, we had attended a birthday party in Springfield for Emerson's cousin. She had been dealing with some allergy problems so we did a treatment before we left but didn't take the machine with us (BIG mistake). She seemed fine after playing at the park. We decided to go to Gordman's and then Lambert's before we headed home. The girls raced from the store to the car after leaving Gordman's and Emmi immediately started coughing. While at the restaurant the coughing continued and then she threw up. As we put her in her car seat, she flipped out: coughing, screaming, grabbing her chest and could obviously not breath. It was almost 10 o'clock, but I called my brother (who has asthma, as well has his wife and son) to see if we could make an emergency stop to borrow a treatment. We were 10 minutes away from them and it seemed like the longest 10 minutes ever. I should have had Craig drive, but he was busy holding her hand making sure she was still breathing. If Scott hadn't been available we would have ended up at the hospital. Lesson learned, always take the machine with us. Between Craig having activity induced asthma as a kid and the thick presents of asthma in my family, in addition to her spine pushing on her lungs, it seems the poor girl will have to deal with asthma in addition to her other issues. My biggest concern for this is how that will effect future casting.
Doctor
Speaking of Dr. Luhmann and our support group, we have recently been reminded of how awesome our doctor is. He was recently named the head of surgery at Shriner's hospital. Other parents have said that he has had a long waiting list for a couple years, so we are not sure how we were able to get into him so quickly. He is known as one of the top surgeons for congenital scoliosis and other Shriner's hospitals send severe cases to him. In our support group we are often asked about our experience with seeing him and have found a couple families to visit with that also see him as well as stories of kids that have already had surgery with him. We truly feel like Emmi is where she needs to be!
Shriners
We were asked to share our story at the recent Shriner's meeting and were able to express our gratitude to some of the Shriner's for sponsoring Emerson. For our three castings, numerous xrays and tests, and all of our appointments we have paid a minimal amount. They turn it all into insurance, but the out of pocket is very minimal because the Shriner's organization pays for much of it. They also provided us with supper at the meeting and gave both of our girls lots of attention. We are very thankful for this group of people and the wonderful things they do for kids in our area, especially little Emerson.
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Struggles
I don't get weak often, but sometimes things are just hard and unfair.
In May we had our check up with Dr. Luhman. The xray in her brace was 64. Since we began in the 70s and had casted down to 50, I was worried, however, he said it was fine. He wanted us to let her enjoy her summer. So, we did! She swam, got filthy in the garden, played in the rain, ate lots of messy ice cream and popsicles, took long baths, and many other things that we wouldn't have been able to do in a cast.
Hospital
In June we hit a speed bump. Emerson seems to have some allergy issues (I think I may be at fault for passing that down to her). The last week of school she had developed bronchitis, which we fixed with an antibiotic. Three weeks later she developed pneumonia. She had been struggling with some minor allergy drainage and a little cough. Nothing that I thought was a concern. We took her to watch her sister play a late night softball game and within an hour of being home she was awake, screaming, grabbing her chest. After being up all night with her, hanging out in the steaming bathroom as much as possible, we got a noon appointment with Dr. Cahill. She was a bit shocked at the quickness, since she was at the ball game the night before and saw Emmi playing and laughing like normal. We were sent straight to the hospital and spent 3 days getting antibiotics, breathing treatments, and steroids. Emerson was such a good sport about this especially since she doesn't really like hospitals. If anything started beeping, she would say, "Uh, oh!" and look for the nurse to come in. If her oxygen tube fell out, she would try to push it back in her nose. The staff at Bothwell Regional Health Center took really good care of her and we were released to go home. We also received some really nice gifts while in the hospital. The local Lion's club had a whole bag of goodies for Em to play with and stuff for us to do while in the hospital. Dr. Cahill felt like the pneumonia developed so quickly because of brace restricting her from breathing deeply. Dr. Luhman's office said that her curve wasn't severe enough to cause that, but to not wear it while she was recovering. Lots of mothers in our support group say there is definitely a link between infant scoliosis and breathing issues. We do know that anything with her breathing isn't something to overlook and needs to be taken seriously.
Asthma
During our hospital stay, we used a defibrillator and purchased one to take home. Thank goodness! Throughout the summer we used it periodically when she was struggling to breath. In September, we had attended a birthday party in Springfield for Emerson's cousin. She had been dealing with some allergy problems so we did a treatment before we left but didn't take the machine with us (BIG mistake). She seemed fine after playing at the park. We decided to go to Gordman's and then Lambert's before we headed home. The girls raced from the store to the car after leaving Gordman's and Emmi immediately started coughing. While at the restaurant the coughing continued and then she threw up. As we put her in her car seat, she flipped out: coughing, screaming, grabbing her chest and could obviously not breath. It was almost 10 o'clock, but I called my brother (who has asthma, as well has his wife and son) to see if we could make an emergency stop to borrow a treatment. We were 10 minutes away from them and it seemed like the longest 10 minutes ever. I should have had Craig drive, but he was busy holding her hand making sure she was still breathing. If Scott hadn't been available we would have ended up at the hospital. Lesson learned, always take the machine with us. Between Craig having activity induced asthma as a kid and the thick presents of asthma in my family, in addition to her spine pushing on her lungs, it seems the poor girl will have to deal with asthma in addition to her other issues. My biggest concern for this is how that will effect future casting.
Doctor
Speaking of Dr. Luhmann and our support group, we have recently been reminded of how awesome our doctor is. He was recently named the head of surgery at Shriner's hospital. Other parents have said that he has had a long waiting list for a couple years, so we are not sure how we were able to get into him so quickly. He is known as one of the top surgeons for congenital scoliosis and other Shriner's hospitals send severe cases to him. In our support group we are often asked about our experience with seeing him and have found a couple families to visit with that also see him as well as stories of kids that have already had surgery with him. We truly feel like Emmi is where she needs to be!
Shriners
We were asked to share our story at the recent Shriner's meeting and were able to express our gratitude to some of the Shriner's for sponsoring Emerson. For our three castings, numerous xrays and tests, and all of our appointments we have paid a minimal amount. They turn it all into insurance, but the out of pocket is very minimal because the Shriner's organization pays for much of it. They also provided us with supper at the meeting and gave both of our girls lots of attention. We are very thankful for this group of people and the wonderful things they do for kids in our area, especially little Emerson.
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Struggles
I don't get weak often, but sometimes things are just hard and unfair.
- Emmi's clothes fluctuate depending on if she has a brace, cast, or nothing. For example we have sizes 18 month, 24 month and 2T all in our closet right now. Pants are 24 month, tops are 2T, pajamas and under shirts are 18 month. Outfits don't always work because the top needs to be bigger than the bottom. When we are in a cast we need a size bigger on top and the size that fits top and bottom without a cast for the week we are cast and brace free. Going through hand me downs, shopping for the right sizes, and keeping it all organized is so time consuming and overwhelming at times. (We are blessed that we kept all of Addi's clothes and that we can afford to buy what Emerson needs. We have also had very generous people offer clothes to us).
- Emmi can't wear the same type of cute clothes and shoes others kids can. Sandals just don't work because of our corrective inserts. First steps provides one pair of $60 shoes for each size. That one pair has to go with everything, skirts, dresses, athletic outfits... She can only wear pants that are tight and elastic because the brace pushes her pants down. She has to wear an undershirt under the brace, so little tank tops look funny, plus she is just always hot because that is three layers all the time. (We are blessed that First Steps provides the shoes as part of our monthly $15 bill and that Miss Ashley let me look at the shoes to pick a pair that will hopefully go with most outfits)
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| This is quite stylist :) She was sneaky and got outside with the dogs like this. |
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| Emerson and Miss Ashley playing with water beads. Ashley has helped her so much with physical therapy. It is amazing! |
- Prior to potty training, diapering wasn't the easiest either. Those parents that have to wait for us to finish at the public changing table can confirm that it takes longer because the diaper has to be tucked into the brace and sometimes for dirty diapers it is just easier to take the brace off. Potty training has been a disaster! The undershirt for the brace is best when it is a onsie because that helps keep her diaper up. For potty training that means unsnapping the onsie to go each time. That's not fun. The onsie then falls in the toilet. The brace pushes on her little bare legs and hurts when she sits on the potty. The pull up doesn't push under the brace like the diaper and leaves the brace to get dirty. We have not experienced potty training with a cast yet, but I am sure that will bring plenty of new struggles. (We are blessed she doesn't have bladder issues and she isn't a complainer. Maybe it will be easier when we get to just panties)
- Emmi likes her back rubbed. That is a constant reminder of how different her spine is. (We are blessed we get to rub her back now, since there is nothing on at bedtime)
- After Em has her surgery she will most likely not be allowed to jump on a trampoline, in a bounce house or go down large water slides. Sports will also be questionable, but we won't know about that for quite a while. (We are blessed she can do bounce houses now, because she absolutely loves them and that she isn't our child that loves dangerous things - that would be Addison)
We know we are blessed and that we are where we need to be. Emerson has many struggles ahead, but she is strong and this will only make her stronger.
Our next appointment is in November. We expect to get the news that we are casting again, but can't be sure. I feel like the rotation is sticking out further, but Dr. Luhmann has told us that as she grows and loses her baby fat the scoliosis will look worse, We will see in November. Until then, prayers for correctly growing lungs and heart are appreciated :)
Our next appointment is in November. We expect to get the news that we are casting again, but can't be sure. I feel like the rotation is sticking out further, but Dr. Luhmann has told us that as she grows and loses her baby fat the scoliosis will look worse, We will see in November. Until then, prayers for correctly growing lungs and heart are appreciated :)
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