This summer has been incredible. It has been such a delight to watch Abby and Makenna play together outside in the heat or cool off in the pool. Such simple pleasures... but after last summer in the cast ~ this was so liberating. We used every moment. Makenna grew by leaps and bounds. She learned to swim underwater, jump in the pool by herself, and overall gain confidence in the water.
Check her out in the water :)
That daily time out of the brace may have taken it's toll a little... when we went for her follow up in Chicago at the end of July, Makenna's x-ray was no where near as good as it was just a few months prior (March). The curve was visible on the film; and it made my stomach turn. The degree of the curve was only 8 degrees. 8 degrees is nothing ~ there are plenty of people walking around with an 8 degree curve who don't even know they have it. 8 is inconsequential. And I know a lot of people who are praying for their child to get anywhere near 8. But when you've come from where we have, and you've been told that your child's genetic condition predispose her scoliosis to be 'relentlessly progressive', and you've heard stories from others of just how quickly the curve can spiral out of control.... it just all goes racing through your head at a lightening speed that doesn't allow for much reason. In my mind, when I saw that small curve, I saw her very first x-ray and felt as though we were headed back to square one. My thought that we may have beaten the odds, that Makenna was going to be the one that proved things didn't have to be a certain way... they all vanished in an instant.
She had also outgrown her brace. I'm not sure that explains why the curve appeared again, but it needed to be addressed... so Makenna was fitted for a new brace and we go back to Chicago on the 24th to pick it up. The process to make the brace was fascinating. When Makenna was fitted for her very first brace (prior to casting - August 09), she was molded for the brace standing up with her arms stretched out to the side. With gravity completely pulling her curve whatever way it wanted to. The brace literally was made from a mold of the very curve we wanted to get rid of. That process of creating a brace is the very reason that braces in general only 'hold a curve'. The brace she is currently in was molded when they applied her last cast, so she was in full traction when it was created. For the new brace, Makenna was put on the very table that they used to apply every one of her casts. She was laying down. There was no traction applied (like there is for the cast), but the simple act of putting her on her back, straightens her spine. We have pictures and Dave took video. I will load those here later.
I am anxious for her to get in the new brace. I feel terrible putting this one on every day not knowing if it's helping or hurting....
All of this has been weighing heavy on my heart and I wasn't even fully aware of it, until a new situation arose and once again I found myself concerned that there might be another layer to Makenna's issues. I have decided not to think too deeply on that point, but it threw me for a big loop. This is such a bumpy road to travel as a parent. All any of us ever want for our kids is to be able to take away their pain, to protect them from harm, and to prepare them for their life. Anyway... to make a long story short (and not dwell on the sad parts)... I found myself in a deep slump the end of this week. I just couldn't seem to shake the sadness. Until today. Thanks to Makenna.
We were scheduled to work Coffee and Doughnuts at Church this morning. I was semi-dreading it. I didn't know if I would be able to shake my mood to greet and interact cordially :)... And Church has a history of being the place where my mind drifts to quiet reflection ~ not something I thought I would fare well with this week. And then, Makenna hit her favorit part of Mass ~ the Glory to God. She taught me a lesson just a few short weeks ago (posted on 7/8/11) through the Glory to God.... apparently I needed a reminder:)
Glory to God in the Highest
Sing Glory to God
Glory to God in the Highest
And Peace to His people on Earth.
She sings it with a purpose; and today she sang it to me - really loudly:).
Got it, Makenna. I'll try not to forget this time!
Check her out in the water :)
That daily time out of the brace may have taken it's toll a little... when we went for her follow up in Chicago at the end of July, Makenna's x-ray was no where near as good as it was just a few months prior (March). The curve was visible on the film; and it made my stomach turn. The degree of the curve was only 8 degrees. 8 degrees is nothing ~ there are plenty of people walking around with an 8 degree curve who don't even know they have it. 8 is inconsequential. And I know a lot of people who are praying for their child to get anywhere near 8. But when you've come from where we have, and you've been told that your child's genetic condition predispose her scoliosis to be 'relentlessly progressive', and you've heard stories from others of just how quickly the curve can spiral out of control.... it just all goes racing through your head at a lightening speed that doesn't allow for much reason. In my mind, when I saw that small curve, I saw her very first x-ray and felt as though we were headed back to square one. My thought that we may have beaten the odds, that Makenna was going to be the one that proved things didn't have to be a certain way... they all vanished in an instant.
She had also outgrown her brace. I'm not sure that explains why the curve appeared again, but it needed to be addressed... so Makenna was fitted for a new brace and we go back to Chicago on the 24th to pick it up. The process to make the brace was fascinating. When Makenna was fitted for her very first brace (prior to casting - August 09), she was molded for the brace standing up with her arms stretched out to the side. With gravity completely pulling her curve whatever way it wanted to. The brace literally was made from a mold of the very curve we wanted to get rid of. That process of creating a brace is the very reason that braces in general only 'hold a curve'. The brace she is currently in was molded when they applied her last cast, so she was in full traction when it was created. For the new brace, Makenna was put on the very table that they used to apply every one of her casts. She was laying down. There was no traction applied (like there is for the cast), but the simple act of putting her on her back, straightens her spine. We have pictures and Dave took video. I will load those here later.
I am anxious for her to get in the new brace. I feel terrible putting this one on every day not knowing if it's helping or hurting....
All of this has been weighing heavy on my heart and I wasn't even fully aware of it, until a new situation arose and once again I found myself concerned that there might be another layer to Makenna's issues. I have decided not to think too deeply on that point, but it threw me for a big loop. This is such a bumpy road to travel as a parent. All any of us ever want for our kids is to be able to take away their pain, to protect them from harm, and to prepare them for their life. Anyway... to make a long story short (and not dwell on the sad parts)... I found myself in a deep slump the end of this week. I just couldn't seem to shake the sadness. Until today. Thanks to Makenna.
We were scheduled to work Coffee and Doughnuts at Church this morning. I was semi-dreading it. I didn't know if I would be able to shake my mood to greet and interact cordially :)... And Church has a history of being the place where my mind drifts to quiet reflection ~ not something I thought I would fare well with this week. And then, Makenna hit her favorit part of Mass ~ the Glory to God. She taught me a lesson just a few short weeks ago (posted on 7/8/11) through the Glory to God.... apparently I needed a reminder:)
Glory to God in the Highest
Sing Glory to God
Glory to God in the Highest
And Peace to His people on Earth.
She sings it with a purpose; and today she sang it to me - really loudly:).
Got it, Makenna. I'll try not to forget this time!