Our trip to Chicago was different than it's ever been before. This was our first clinic visit since our initial evaluation. Every other trip we've made has had a significant investment of time involved... We would travel up the night before for each cast, had to be at the hospital at 6 am and didn't usually leave until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The last trip in October was also slated to be a long day. We had to first go to the brace shop to have the cast removed, then had to have the brace adjusted as needed ~and of course our fabulous, not so planned, tour of the workshop at the orthotist. Then we were scheduled for a quick stop at the hospital so her new doctor could take a look at the brace and check it's fit. That quick stop turned out to be quite a bit longer because they were running behind... So each trip we've spent at least 3-5 hours at the hospital. This time was much different!
I'm not sure what I was expecting or why I hadn't processed that this visit would feel very different. But when our appointment was over in 20 minutes, I felt very strange. But this is where we are at, and it's good ~ it's GREAT!
Makenna has acheived great results from the casting. We did not get x-rays this visit, which means her spine hasn't been x-rayed since August. That makes me a little nervous and I am curious what the x-ray looks like... but I have to respect the fact that the doctor feels he can monitor by clinical evaluation and that there is no need to expose her to more radiation at this point. You can clearly see her spine when she bends over and touches her toes ~ it's as good as an x-ray. We will go back in 4 months for another follow up....and he says he'll do an x-ray then ;)
We did extend our visit by chatting with Gwen; the nurse who took care of Makenna on every visit. She is a wonderful, caring, inspiring woman who takes such good care of her tiny patients and feels very close to each of them. Makenna loves visiting with her!
But now that I have realized what our new 'normal' appointment will be like, I am thinking I will schedule better and make a weekend of it!
I'm not sure what I was expecting or why I hadn't processed that this visit would feel very different. But when our appointment was over in 20 minutes, I felt very strange. But this is where we are at, and it's good ~ it's GREAT!
Makenna has acheived great results from the casting. We did not get x-rays this visit, which means her spine hasn't been x-rayed since August. That makes me a little nervous and I am curious what the x-ray looks like... but I have to respect the fact that the doctor feels he can monitor by clinical evaluation and that there is no need to expose her to more radiation at this point. You can clearly see her spine when she bends over and touches her toes ~ it's as good as an x-ray. We will go back in 4 months for another follow up....and he says he'll do an x-ray then ;)
We did extend our visit by chatting with Gwen; the nurse who took care of Makenna on every visit. She is a wonderful, caring, inspiring woman who takes such good care of her tiny patients and feels very close to each of them. Makenna loves visiting with her!
But now that I have realized what our new 'normal' appointment will be like, I am thinking I will schedule better and make a weekend of it!