Taking a night off

[FAHSAI]

My 11 yr old daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis last sept at an examination for school sports.
Since then she wears a night time brace. She is doing OK with it and has worn it every night without fail(except one night when she felt sick to her stomach part way through the nite).
She is considering going to a sleep over with friends and some other girls she doesnt know too well. She is very concerned about how the others will take seeing her in a brace and how they will treat her.

So I would like some opinions on what others think about letting her skip wearing it for that one night.

thanks for any opinions/advice

[leahdragonfly]

Fahsai,

Please by all means reward her for her cooperation with the brace by giving her this one important night off! One night off in the scheme of things is nothing. I am quite sure her orthopedist would say that was fine if you asked, also. I think this type of small concession/reward goes a long way to pave the way for continued acceptance of the brace. She will have lots of fun and get to forget about her scoliosis for one night, which is really important.

[Pooka1]

I agree completely with Gayle.

But to ease your mind, maybe you could ask your surgeon. Ours answers emails (or I mean his nurse does).

[mariaf]

I agree 100% with Gayle and Sharon. I would absolutely give your daughter the night off.

[FAHSAI]

Thanks for the opinions/advice.
I agree that a special night for her would be a nice reward for putting up with the brace.

I let her know that all of you agree and she is so happy.

thanks again

[FAHSAI]

Just to let you know,
she had a GREAT night with her friends at the sleep over and now is back to wearing the brace without complaint.
I think it was a really good reward for being so good about wearing it.

[leahdragonfly]

Hi Fahsai,

That's wonderful news! I think it is so important to give some tangible rewards and reinforcement to these kids for wearing a brace.

We had a horrible time with a full-time brace at our house when Leah was 6, so we ended up paying her $1/day of wearing it with a minimal of complaining. Her grandmother matched that amount. Our little girl made bank for awhile with her brace. You do what you have to do!!

[mariaf]

Just to let you know,
she had a GREAT night with her friends at the sleep over and now is back to wearing the brace without complaint.
I think it was a really good reward for being so good about wearing it.

I think you absolutely made the right decision 100%!!!

And please rest assured, that in the grand scheme of things, you did no harm whatsoever. In fact, in the long run, you probably made it much easier for your daughter to comply with brace wear.