Tuesday, September 26, 2006


YIKES!


We went to the AFO Clinic today to have Isla assessed for the Orthotics she'll need to wear to help her walk. They look like what Forrest Gump wore when he was a kid but not metal & leather


She'll need one for each leg, and will more than likely have to wear them forever The Orthotist said that he wanted to cast her today and have her in them in 2 weeks time (they take 2 weeks to make!)


So our hospital physiotherapist called the PAPD who we lodged an application for funding with to see whether we could go ahead with having them made. We put in a form for funding back in June but we're still another 3-8 months down the waiting list So the Orthotist gave us the choice of calling them ourselves and pestering them until they put us on top of the list (this could take a month of calling daily), we could simply wait until we received the funding or we could fork out the $$$ ourselves - the actual dollar figure - $1484!!! I nearly fell off my chair! Mum is loaning us the $$$ until we get our bond back and can repay her.


With the PAPD we pay the first $100 and the government pays the rest, I was told they would only cost $500 each - but holy moly! Isla's will have a special locking mechanism so that she can have the hinge locked when she's learning in them then unlocked so that she'll have more movement.


They'll only fit for 12 months and only if she doesn't have a major growth spurt in that time!


So we had them made, they'll be sent to our physio when they're completed so we'll go there (and pay out more hard earned!) to have them fitted properly!


...it never ends!!...

Wednesday, September 20, 2006


Dr L was running late as usual...we didn't get in to see him until 12 and our appointment was for 10.45!


Anyway he's happy with the progress Isla has made since he saw her last time (in June I think) He said that the casting made a real difference so he's not going to go ahead with Botox just yet because Isla responded so well to the casting he's going to wait and see what the AFO Clinic says next Tuesday and try to get her into some AFO's ASAP. He wants them to have a fixed hinge so that she can wear them like her Thermoplastic Splints that Michael made her, but they'll also be able to move freely when she's built her confidence up more.


He was very pleased with her knee walking because he said that she's opening up her hip joint well (most kids with Spastic Diplegia can't do this) so he said it's a good sign (he smiled a lot while she did it!) He thinks she'll do well with the AFO's and will see her again at his next Clinic which isn't until March next year!


He explained that it's better for us to try the AFO before the Botox because she'd need to wear the AFO's once she's had the injections anyway (and will probably need injections in her ankles as well to stop them from rolling) so she'll need to be used to it - and also because it's non-invasive.


So it all went pretty well. Michael and Dr L said to just continue putting her boots on her (will have to get her another pair, these ones are ruined already!) and encouraging her to walk!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006


Welcome to the World little Ava!


Congratulations to Ian's big sister Meghann & Husband Graham, who had a little girl early this morning!! Can't wait to meet you little Miss!