X-Rays

We are more than half way through this first cast and Cade is still doing great!  We've only had a few hot, sunny days where we miss swimming thanks to all the rain we've been getting.  Potty training is still going well.  He's pretty much there unless he is having too much fun when playing.  He has tolerated car trips pretty well until this past weekend.  We went to Owensville for a wedding and once we hit the half way point, he had to stop and stretch his legs every 30 minutes due to the cast rubbing his hips.  This happened on the way home too so we'll make sure this isn't a problem in #2 since we will be traveling to Owensville, Colorado, and Oklahoma during that cast.
I received a copy of Cade's x-rays.   The 1st one is from 3/17/15 to confirm his diagnosis.  It is a standing X-ray.  Starting point- 42° curve to the left T6-L1, RVAD 10°, rib phase 2 (this is mostly for my info to remember).

2nd x-Ray done in OR.  In cast laying on traction table.  Got curve

to 15° in cast.

These are just photocopies so not the best quality, but you can get an idea of what his spine looks like.  He will get an out of cast X-ray on 7/2 to see if there is any correction or if the curve has managed to get any bigger despite the cast.  It was probably larger than 42° when he actually got his cast because the doctor thought it looked slightly bigger on the MRI and there was 2 months between the first Xray and his cast which is plenty of time for a curve to progress in size.  We are staying hopeful but realistic.  Most kids have 6 casts at a minimum so it is a process, but well worth it if it means avoiding future surgeries.  Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Cast 1: One week down

Cade has made it one week in his cast and is doing Amazing!  He really hasn't let it slow him down.  He struggled a little with figuring out how to get comfortable the day he came home with it, but by the next day was getting up and down from the floor fine and is pretty much able to do everything he did before. He is sleeping fine in it and his appetite hasn't been restricted at all. Luckily the biggest challenge has been figuring out what clothes work.  Cade returned to preschool last Thursday.  Over the weekend, he enjoyed boy's night with Daddy and Rylan.  Saturday and Sunday we hung out at home and worked on potty training.  Monday, he went to a party at a neighbor's house and enjoyed a bounce house and playing with lots of kids.  He has only asked once or twice to take the cast off.  Daddy gave his cast some swag Monday night by adding Superman duct tape to hold down some of the mole skin that was peeling up from his clothes rubbing.  He's been getting sponge baths and enjoyed a good hair wash Monday night over the kitchen sink.  This week, he is going to preschool Tuesdays-Thursday and has worn underwear-yay!  The boys will stay home with me Friday and then we'll have our first long car ride in the cast as we travel to Owensville for the weekend.  Here's some pics of our little trooper from this week.

Cast #1 is on

We arrived at Children's Mercy a little before 6am today.  Cade did great.  He didn't ask about eating or drinking and enjoyed playing with all their toys.  He was cleared for the procedure and they started around 7:30.  He had a calming medicine before we had to leave him so he did not scream and cry (like the MRI).  They gave him a little gas to put him to sleep before putting in his IV. They finished around 9:15 and Cade's doctor talked to us.  The MRI was clear-no abnormalities of the bones or spinal cord which was a relief.  He did say Cade's curve probably progressed in the 2 months since his last x-ray because it looked larger on the MRI but he did not give a number.  It would be hard to compare numbers anyways since Cade was laying down for the MRI and the x-rays are done standing since that it more accurate.  The good news was that they got him to a 15° curve in the cast.  He tolerated everything well and we were able to see him by 9:45.  He was crying and asking for Daddy when we got back there but was better after sitting on Daddy's lap.  He did complain about the cast hurting and wanted to take it off.  The nurse reassured us that he was just a smart 2 year old who knew if he complained about it hurting we might remove it.  It is heavy and probably uncomfortable but we are supposed to give him time to get used to it.  We were out of there by 10am and headed home.  Once he got home and had all his toys he was much better.  He got anti-nausea meds so no throwing up this time:). We were really surprised at how quickly he has adapted already to his cast.  He is now very proud of it and had to show it off to Rylan, Lolly and Pop, and Nana and Papa.  He is figuring out how to get up off the floor and comfortable positions for sleeping and playing on the floor.  He's going to spend the day tomorrow with Lolly and Pop so he can get more comfortable moving around.  Thank you for the prayers.  We continue to pray that the cast
helps his spine grow straighter and decrease his curve.  He will get this cast off July 2nd and will get x-rays to see how he is responding.  Hopefully his curve will be lower than 42° out of cast.  He will get his 2nd cast on July 8th and it will be on 6-8 weeks.  Keep praying!

MRI-check

Cade had his MRI today at Children's Mercy South.  We started out good.  He slept till 7:15 and didn't ask for food until about 7:45.  We planned to leave around 8 so didn't have to withhold food and drinks too long.  Made really good time and arrived early to the hospital.  They got us in a little after 9.  The nurse told us they would start his IV after anesthesia cleared him.  We think they started the IV around 10:20 but was busy holding him so the nurse could get that in and didn't keep track of the time.  Putting the IV in was hard to watch.  He was very upset.  He calmed once they got some meds in there and then they wheeled him off.  It was hard to leave him especially since he started screaming and crying.  We waited in the waiting room for about 2hrs before they finally came to get us.  Cade apparently started to wake up before the MRI was finished so they had to give more meds.  He was awake but pretty out of it when we went back to see him.  The nurse had already given him goldfish crackers and apple juice and he was inhaling it.  I did not have a good feeling about how fast he was drinking and eating when he was still so woozy.  He couldn't sit up independently at that point but she told us we could go.  Sure enough he puked at the exit so we went back to the room.  She helped us clean him up and watched him for a few minutes and then sent us on our way. He was pretty irritable the whole way home.  At home, he wanted to walk but was too unsteady.  He fought us on changing clothes, where to lay, etc.  He then started throwing up again.  Once we got him calmed down and cleaned up he was pretty tired out so we made a bed on the living room floor where I could keep an eye on him.  I was worried that he would fall out of bed or off the couch and he seemed to prefer the floor.  He passed out from 2-5pm.  When he woke up he was almost back to normal.  He smiled and said "I sleep good!".  He still wasn't very steady on his feet so we had to stay close.  He ended up eating a snack and a great dinner and made it out for ice cream.  Eric and I agreed that it was like taking care of a drunk for a few hours there.  So glad when he was back to his usual self.  Hoping to hear results by Monday.  Cast is scheduled for Tuesday so keep the prayers coming!

new schedule

We were able to get Cade's cast rescheduled for 5/19.  He will have his MRI first on 5/13.  They assured me it was fine for him to do these as close together as they are.  He'll be in the first cast for 6 weeks and will have it removed on 7/2.  We'll enjoy a cast break over the 4th so lots of swimming hopefully!  He is scheduled for the 2nd cast on 7/8.  We originally thought they would cast over the shoulder but the doctor told us the other day that he is not doing it because he does not think it makes a difference and is more uncomfortable on the kids.  We had a nice trial run at the hospital the other morning so we know more about what to expect on 5/19.  Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers!

Well, we went for our pre-op appointment at 6am this morning and the anesthesiologist did not feel comfortable proceeding today due to a croupy cough so we are home.  The nurse will call to rescchedule.   May be 6 weeks.  Keep you posted.

Monday "meeting" with doctor

I mentioned in my last post that we would be speaking further with the doctor to get questions answered.  We were able to email his nurse a list of questions and I received an email that night with every question answered.  We are feeling better and have officially scheduled casting to begin on 4/14.  We have lots of people praying for Cade so keep the prayers coming!