So glad I found you guys!

[Elisa]

It's weird, but my son has not complained at all about his back since he had the posterior release done on March 22nd. and he hasn't even had the final surgery yet. He was in pretty bad shape just before we left to come down here and I was getting really worried as he was getting so twisted and was constantly wiggling around to get comfortable. I hope when everything is over with here that his back won't be such an issue for a good long while.

I'm actually getting along quite well with the lady next door after all and instead of leaving her son during the week she is staying and we've been having a bit of fun together. That said, her driving scares me and the roads here are lumpier here than back home. Maybe we should be putting a little less $$$ into our nice smooth highways and a little more into our health care system, heh.

I did find out a little about her son's curve(s) and he has an 'S' curve that extends into the lumbar region like I thought. They have also removed his weights temporarily b/c his blood pressure is high and I'm not sure what the plan is but she is a bit discouraged and I can't blame her.

[Pooka1]

http://cuteoverload.com/2011/03/30/e...lla-dispenser/

[titaniumed]

Good post from Sharon

Each individual patient has his or her own very special set of parameters...and there are quite a few things involved in the balancing of the whole package....

I cannot comment on what it feels like after a release since I was out between stages. I could imagine it is quite a relief for Elias.

Things should smooth out now till the next surgery.....Change is always difficult.

These spammers! This is a scoliosis forum. Our interests here are in scoliosis, and rodents, not software.
Ed

[LokanasDad]

Been loving the daily updates and the pictures, thank you so much. I noticed that your son's surgery is scheduled for the 19th also, I am thinking the week before Easter is going to be pretty good!

Oh and for those who want to know, Steven can get rid of Windows seven by formatting the Hard Drive. That or taking a baseball bat to his PC and getting a mac. LOL

[Pooka1]

This is a scoliosis forum. Our interests here are in scoliosis, and rodents, not software.
Ed

Post of the month nominee.

[Pooka1]

Oh and for those who want to know, Steven can get rid of Windows seven by formatting the Hard Drive. That or taking a baseball bat to his PC and getting a mac. LOL

Excellent!

He can also do all three suggestions. :-)

Not sure why his account hasn't been deleted yet.

[Elisa]

http://cuteoverload.com/2011/03/30/e...lla-dispenser/

Awww, a bebe chinchilla, how cute. I've never had a 'kit' before b/c all my guys were full grown when I got them. It has been nice having a little break from all the work that goes with having seven mess makers but I am now starting to miss them.

I wouldn't mind doing a bit of laundry today but they are renovating the area where the washers/dryers are so either I have to go over to the other kids' hospital on the hill here (it's a maze and I'll get lost for sure) or make my way down the hill to a laundromat. Now how's that for an exciting outing!?

The boy next door has his weights put back on only it's a lesser amount as his blood pressure has stabilized.

Elias is up to 28lbs today. Adding a pound a day seems to be fine and he is not noticing the extra weight which is great.

[Elisa]

BIG difference.

Finally got to see the first x-rays of before & after the spinal release surgery done on March 22nd. along with 6 days of halo/weight traction.

The before pic is his spine (crazy) at 110* and the second pic is 60* with 8 pedicle screws put in. I thought Dr. K. said he put 2 screws in but I must have heard wrong b/c there are definitely 8. I'm assuming he will get another x-ray after the weekend but I'm thinking this first one is going to be the most dramatic.

Up to 31lbs. this morning.

[Pooka1]

THAT'S AMAZING!! That's truly amazing!

50* in 6 days. That's got to be a record for reduction using non-surgical methods.

I bet he gets a great final result.

[Elisa]

Forgot to mention that the other BC boy Donovan who travelled down with us in January, who is scheduled for surgery here on May 2nd. with Dr. K. got a surgery date of May 4th. @ BC Children's. Amy, his mom basically told them to hit the road and they're keeping their date with Shriners even though she lives about an hour away from Vancouver. I'm yet to get a first appointment with them but if they do call I'll be telling them where to go AND will be telling them that I will be contacting the media when I get back.

Edit: Get this, I was told by the Shriner bus driver that Shriners donate $250K a year to BC Children's hospital!! And yet when I first mentioned to them that I was considering going that route I was told that if I did there would be no followups in BC. What!? They treated me like absolute shit!! Makes my blood boil.

[jrnyc]

wow, Elisa, what a difference!
can you explain what the surgeons do in "spinal release" surgery?
it made such a huge difference, though i know you said he still needs another surgery...
i cannot imagine what it is they did to get such great results...?
or did the halo tx cause the results...? apologize for my ignorance about this...

congratulations...to the doctors, and to you, for obtaining this for your son!

jess

[foofer]

Finally got to see the first x-rays of before & after the spinal release surgery done on March 22nd. along with 6 days of halo/weight traction.

The before pic is his spine (crazy) at 110* and the second pic is 60* with 8 pedicle screws put in. I thought Dr. K. said he put 2 screws in but I must have heard wrong b/c there are definitely 8. I'm assuming he will get another x-ray after the weekend but I'm thinking this first one is going to be the most dramatic.

Up to 31lbs. this morning.

Spectacular...I flipped back and forth between the two x-rays five or more times...and I only have 1/2 hr for lunch today!

I've loved reading your story, Elise. Just amazing...

[Elisa]

wow, Elisa, what a difference!
can you explain what the surgeons do in "spinal release" surgery?
it made such a huge difference, though i know you said he still needs another surgery...
i cannot imagine what it is they did to get such great results...?
or did the halo tx cause the results...? apologize for my ignorance about this...

congratulations...to the doctors, and to you, for obtaining this for your son!

jess

Jess, it was somewhat explained to me that when they do a spinal release they nip at the ligaments between the vertebrae and chip out some of the bone to "loosen" up the spine so that it can be straightened. If only one surgery is required then they do this before putting in the rods but if the curve is severe then they'll do it in a two-stage surgery or if it's really severe like in Elias' case then it's done in three stages: release/traction/fusion. Maybe someone else can explain it better but that's the best I can do at the moment.

foofer, sorry to make you miss your lunch, lol.

[jrnyc]

thanks for the explanation, Elisa
maybe i'll look it up on the internet, too...

continued good luck...

jess

[Elisa]

Let me know if you find out anything interesting Jess. I'm going to look it up too. I did some research a while ago but I've forgotten the details. The halo/weight traction works really well b/c it is a gentler approach to lengthening the spine b/c the weights are added gradually. It is a slower process than just getting in there and surgically cranking the spine but it's not an option in a lot of hospitals and I'd imagine it would be quite costly to keep a patient (and parent in our case) in the hospital for a month or more.

Also, with halo/weight traction there is a good deal of mobility for the patient b/c they can get up and around on a walker/wheelchair etc. I have read about halo/femur traction where they put pins in the leg and that doesn't sound very good to me and I don't think they have much mobility and do have to stay in bed. I am SO thankful we are not doing that.