Before Hunter made his grand entrance into this world, I searched for a quote to place over his bed. Something that would be motivational and hopefully characteristic of the little man that God was soon to bless us with. I chose, "Let him sleep, for when he wakes, he will move mountains", to hang in his safari themed room. It struck a chord with me, because the quote was unique and had a sense of strength and purpose. Hunter has already shown a tremendous amount of strength at such a young age and has made those who surround him stronger in the process.
Friday marked a week since our little man received his first Mehta torso cast. After reading and talking with other scoli parents prior to casting, James and I were prepared for the first 48 to 72 hours in cast, to be fairly rough based on what we had learned from the experiences of others. Boy were we wrong! I'm not saying that things weren't challenging for Hunter, because any time there is change there is a period of adjustment. However, we were completely in awe of our little man, along with the resiliency and tenacity that he displayed. Within 3 hours of being home, Hunter had learned to push himself up into a standing position, gain his balance, walk, and bend down and pick up his toys. He has yet to pull at his cast, as if uncomfortable. This from a boy that won't keep socks on his feet or a hat on his head for more than a couple of seconds!
Hunter's doctor's nurse had told us that the cast wouldn't slow him down, even if we were hoping for a break ;) Hunter has lived up to that prediction and is up to his regular tricks of climbing on his lego table, delivering dog food to Riley and Gauge, and reorganizing my bathroom drawers. He has multiple bruises on his forehead from a few doors and things that have snuck up on him, but over all, he is doing great.
Apparently the dogs need to learn to eat with silverware too.
A little bit of Blue Bell brings a lot of happiness.
James and I decided that the best thing for Hunter was to get him right back into his routine and encourage him through this process. On Monday, Hunter and I went to his Gymboree gym class. He had been moved up to the next level three weeks prior, because of age. This past week was his first time to attend the new class, since we had missed for an MRI and doctor's appointment that last two weeks. I was a little curious how he would adapt in the new class with his cast, as he was still working on his balance. He knocked it out of the park. He was able to walk up a foam mat incline and push a large exercise ball over the top. The teacher, who was a substitute and had no knowledge of Hunter's condition, was so impressed that she had him demonstrate. I was one proud mama. Not only was he able to complete the skill, but he mastered it cast and all!
Prior to being cast, Hunter appeared to be very labored when he would walk. He fell often. His left foot was somewhat pigeon toed and he limped with his left leg. I wish I had a good comparison video to show you all, because you would be stunned at what a difference a week in the cast has made on his livelihood. He walks straight and his left foot no longer turns inward. Since his verbal communication is limited, he can't tell us how he feels, however we've decided that he has to feel secure and must feel better, since he hasn't tried to pull at the cast. We think he had become so used to adapting that he didn't realize how hard he was having to work to do every day tasks. I have caught myself throughout the last few days just watching him in amazement.
Hunter has taught us many things in the last week and throughout this process. I was thinking the other day about how thankful that I am that he is so young and he will experience the bulk of this journey before he will be in a situation where children will be aware that there is something different. Having been in the classroom, I know how kind and adversely, how cruel children can be.
We usually have a playdate once a week with a little boy who lives nearby. It is a great opportunity for Hunter to learn how to play with others and share. It's really fun to watch the boys and how they relate to one another. While they have been playing together for several months now, we hadn't been able to play for the last couple of weeks, and it took a little bit for the boys to come around and break away from being shy. Hunter had a snack bag of cookies sitting on the couch. He offered one to his friend and they picked up right where they'd left off and began playing. Whether it's a cookie, a smile, or a kind word, Hunter reminded me that while we are all unique in our own right, that an extension of kindness can make a difference in the eyes and response of the beholder.
I firmly believe that God equipped Hunter with the personality and motivation to fight and overcome his condition. We are just blessed to be able to support him on this journey and learn a few things along the way. One day, this time will be a blip in the radar, however, James and I plan to keep Hunter's casts so we can show him how strong he has become and how many mountains he has moved.
"You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!"
James and I want to thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers for Hunter and our family. I appreciate you taking the time to read about the road we're traveling. Stay tuned for more to come. Please feel free to share this blog and Hunter's story and pass it along to those who might be interested. The more we share, the more people can learn about progressive infantile scoliosis, early recognition, and treatment.
If you would like to learn more about progressive infantile scoliosis, check out the ISOP website:
