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Excellent news about Savannah, Sharon. No doubt Willow will follow in her footsteps.

Mary Ellen

Thinking of Gabby. I was in your shoes a year and two weeks ago. This will be a long day for you, but it sounds like she is in excellent hands. We'll be waiting to hear.

Mary Ellen

My son was fused a year ago at age 13. We found his regular mattress worked fine for him--he didn't seem to need a topper. What was really useful was a recliner we acquired for his recovery. He spent...

My son was fused a year ago at age 13--a very long fusion. At his check-up last week the surgeon said his x-rays look good and his balance is "excellent." He's allowed to do what he wants except...

FYI:

My son was fused to L4 at age 13 a year ago. When I asked about the chance of future surgery, the surgeon (at Shriners in Philadelphia) answered that he has a 15% lifetime chance of future...

Wonderful news--thanks for updating us! And very glad to hear about the shorter than expected fusion.

Mary Ellen

Thinking of Lauren...

Mary Ellen

We'll be thinking of Lauren and you tomorrow, Charlene...

Mary Ellen

Welcome.

Of course you are worried--you wouldn't be human if you weren't. The good news is that although fusion is more than major surgery, statistics show the risk, especially for children, is...

Great news, Sharon. I'm sure you're so relieved, even though things were beginning to look significantly better before the consult. Onward and upward--no doubt it will be smooth from here on in.
...

Great news, Sharon. I bet whatever it is will resolve soon.

Mary Ellen

So sorry to hear about the hug damage, Sharon. Just want you to know I'm thinking of Willow and you. Hope your news is good today. Please let us know.

Mary Ellen

Marian--

I think I have read on this forum of kids (and adults) having trouble sleeping at night for a while after surgery. Could it be something to do with the body readjusting after meds are...

Welcome!

My son was also diagnosed at 11, then fused at 13 nearly a year ago (we go for the 1-yr check-up in about two weeks). Your daughter's fusion will be short compared to my son's--he is...

I've been away over the last 10 days, Sharon. Great to hear how well Willow is doing. Drums--imagine!

Mary Ellen

My son was fused just under a year ago at Shriners in Philly. We had no such instructions about 12 weeks out. He developed the sniffles 2 weeks before surgery, and we yanked him from school...

Thanks for the update, Sharon. All sounds good, and I'm so glad to hear Willow is continuing to do well. What an excellent reminder that everyone reacts differently.

Mary Ellen

Sidney had surgery 2 days after the pre-op, but we live 14 hours away from Philadelphia where the surgery was done and had had all the preop tests (PFT, ECHO, EKG, etc.) done several months earlier...

Very glad to hear all went so well. Onward and upward! Cheering for you and Willow.

Mary Ellen

Sharon--

I'll be thinking of you all today, and know, as you do, that Willow is in excellent hands. Most likely by the time you read this it will be all over and the recovery will be under way--no...

What I mean is that when my husband, who supervises the weight work, asked about weight limits for lifting, he wasn't give any. My son is only 14 and his upper body is not super strong (hence the...

JDM555:

Every case is different and every surgeon has slightly a different protocol.

We are not yet at the 1 year mark (that will be in November), but I think right now there are no limits on...

MontanaMom:

We live in far western NC, which is a minimum of 3 hours from any hospital we would have chosen to do the surgery on our son. We elected to go to Shriners in Philadelphia (where he got...

I want to echo Mary Lou. Each case is different, and it is possible there are plans for PT for your son. Your surgeon is the one who will decide; s/he will have the final word, so don't consider it...

No physical therapy after returning home. It's my understanding that except in unusual circumstances, walking is the only PT prescribed.

This time of waiting is the hardest.

Mary Ellen