In preparing for a competition or an upcoming challenge, it is imperative that you have a game plan. That game plan may change depending on the opponent or scenario, but ultimately it's reflective of your personnel and philosophy.
With Progressive Infantile Scoliosis, the game plan is to seek treatment as soon as possible and preferably before the age of 2. With little nuggets like Hunter, they are growing at a rapid rate, and therefore the scoliosis can rapidly progress without treatment. The sooner you treat it, the better the chances of success. Without treatment, it can lead to a lifetime of problems with deformation of the ribs, reduced lung capacity, etc.
You've met the personnel, our little man, Hunter, with a fighting heart. Now for the philosophy to beat this condition. PIS is a treatable scenario, but as I said before, it is very time sensitive. The ortho that we met in Houston was all about "wait and see". His philosophy was that you perform treatment as more of a holding pattern and precursor to surgery in the early teen years. I don't know about you, but I would rather come out fighting and try to score first, rather than sit back on defense. (Which, as a side note, is why I love the coaching style of Kevin Sumlin...love me some Aggie football! Whoop!)
Through research, and information sent to me by Heather Hyatt-Montoya, the founder of ISOP, I learned of the studies of Dr. Min Mehta and her method of casting little ones with infantile scoliosis. Her mindset and philosophy was that with the cast, a child can have a gentle form of correction to guide or retrain the growth of the spine. Dr. Mehta personally trained the doctors at Scottish Rite. They adhere the Mehta torso casts in succession for a period of time determined by the severity of the curve and progress of the child. Each cast stays on a child for an average of about 8 weeks. Prior to being admitted to Scottish Rite, I had already made up my mind and heart that that was where we were supposed to be. We must allow him to be treated in the best environment possible in the most least invasive way,
February 19th came...Sitton on Deck!
Our consultation appointment with our doctor at Scottish Rite was early Wednesday morning. We made our way to the hospital and were instantly impressed with everyone we came in contact with. It was like being welcomed with open arms into a small town. We were escorted back to the Olympics themed waiting area (how timely and coincidental) and they began by checking his height, weight, and circumference of his head. Little man loves to be tickled but detests being poked and prodded. They measured the circumference of his head and he immediately pulled the tape off of his head and whined as if it were a terrible thing. Wearing a hat at this point in time is completely out of the question, but Daddy is still working on it.
We were then taken to a basketball themed room, my kind of room ;) and waited to be seen by the doctor. His assistant came in and did a basic exam and said that the doctor would be in in a bit. Hunter, like most kids his age, is in to EVERYTHING. As prepared as you think you are, it never seems to be quite enough. He at a snack, read three books, watched a couple of videos on the iPad, colored, and we were still waiting. He then began opening all of the drawers and cabinets and trying to climb an abacus type toy that was attached to the wall. I completely understand that doctors are busy and if a doctor is visiting with us, I certainly want to be able to ask every question possible and have him spend ample time answering them, however, the combination of a toddler and a confined waiting room is pure torture. The scenario immediately made me call to mind a store front that we had seen the night before on the way to dinner. There was a medical weight loss store right next to a specialty chocolate shop. I'd bet money that someone has skipped their weigh in for a chocolate peanut butter cup. If doctors only knew that's how it feels waiting in a confined space with a toddler, when you can hear doctors and nurses moving around and talking outside your room. If they were chocolate lovers they might speed things up.
Anyway, the doctor and his team finally came in and examined Hunter, watched him walk, held him. Hunter, of course, begins flirting with the nurse and then kissing me on the cheek to see what they would do. My grandparents gave me a charm for my charm bracelet one time that said 90% angel and I was given it and explained that the other 10% was little devil. Hunter's a cute little devil too, but we'll keep him!
We asked a number of questions and the orthopedic said that he would like to have X-rays done and then move forward with casting as soon as possible. He indicated that Hunter will be in a cast for a minimum of 1 1/2 years and he removes and replaces the cast every two months in the same procedure, so he will undergo a lesser amount of anesthesia. Music to my ears!
He said that his schedule was pretty tight but was sure that they could work us in. His nurse piped up that she thought that they had an opening for Friday and that she would check and get back with us. Friday?! What a difference a doctor makes!
We then made our way down the hallway to get an X-ray. While we were waiting to be called, a man came up and started smiling and talking with Hunter. He was taken with our little man and kept trying to get him to smile. He introduced himself as the Chairman of the Board at Scottish Rite. He had previously been a patient at Scottish Rite, as a child, and was a double amputee. He then introduced us to his friend, who was the former Chief of Staff at Scottish Rite. They both were trying to play "this little piggy" with Hunter's toes. Needless to say, I think we are in the right place for multiple reasons!
Hunter completed the X-ray, was then measured for a scoliosis study, and was squeezed into the schedule for Friday. Praise God for leading us to Scottish Rite and giving the doctors the understanding of the sensitivity of time!
We began preparing as best we could for Friday by buying clothes (he will have to go up a shirt size), diapers (he will have to go down a diaper size), things for the car trip home in case he gets sick, and things to occupy little man as best we can. After our appointment we went to the home of some of our friends so Hunter could rest and stretch his legs. Luckily, we have some friends that live about a mile or so from the hospital and they were happy to take us in for a few nights, so we wouldn't have to drive back to Houston. James and our friend, Keith, went to the store to go buy a few things for Hunter and then I would go later to finish up. I told them to buy diapers, apple juice, and something for little man to eat. They decided to head to Whole Foods down the street, which I'm sure Phil Robertson would call Yuppyville. They grabbed a few beers and walked and shopped. James said as they made their way to the diaper aisle, that a woman spotted them and asked if they needed help. He said she was looking at them as if she thought they were a couple. I told them that they should have played along with it and made up a storyline about adopting a child. I guess they didn't think it was as funny as I did. You've got to get a laugh when you can ;)
We were on deck and forever grateful.
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