Operation Spacial frame No 3

Wow, we are home and only 3 days post surgery!! Reid has his new frame on and it looks pretty scary but its got an awsome job to do. Reid didn't handle the last anesthetic too well. He woke up feeling pretty groggy and due to his complete knowledge of operations and their aftermath he was not too happy with this one and started to tell the nurses that he must has been given the wrong anesthetic cos he is supposed to feel a lot better than this...so I was called up to Recovery to calm him down as he was making a lot of noise. day two after the op the physios wanted to get him out of bed and moving. This was a slow process but once he found his new freedom (and the playroom) it was very hard to get him back into bed. This morning he was firing to go so after a shower and all his pins cleaned dr Pincus told us to go home. We may have to have some more corrective surgery in a week or so but all looks good so far. I am in need of a baileys on ice so I am signing off. I will keep you posted. Love Jo xx

Getting ready for Spacial Frame No. 3!

Reid's leg mended very well after the removal of the last frame. He then went into a hard plastic Kaco brace to protect his leg and thank fully this was a brace from his knee down, so Reid was walking/running/climbing trees/riding his bike to school in no time! We had a wonderful summer. We went to Pa's in Sydney for Christmas and all looked bright and rosy.
Check up with Dr Steadman was scheduled at the beginning of March. He was happy with Reids leg and suggested that he now take the brace off on weekends and start walking around without it.
WOW how fantastic - until weekend two of this new found freedom.
Reid was playing outside with Alex and her friend Jessica. He bent down to pick up a ball and he heard his leg snap and I heard an almighty scream. Three screams actually, the girls were screaming just as loudly as Reid was!! When I saw Reid's leg looking quite out of place I ran to him and sat with him as the girls ran across the road to our wonderful neighbourly Doctor Parkin. Thank God he was home.Dr P had Reids leg back into some sort of place and strapped and in his car and we were at St Vincents emergency within 15mins of the break. Now thats service!!
After an x-ray it was confirmed that not only was the tibia broken but so to was the fibula! We called Dr Pincus in Brisbane, and Reid was fitted with cast No.10! A white one - which everyone signed.
Having another broken leg was devastating as we were about to begin the Easter holidays. We had a camping trip planned out at Aunty Lissa's and Uncle Luke's and then two weeks at the Gold Coast! Thankfully the wonderful staff at St. Vincents put him in a waterproof cast!
After the holidays we had another check up with Dr Steadman and he confirmed what David and I were thinking that Reid would have to have some surgery to fix this crooked leg.
Today we met with Dr Pincus and he has decided to reset Reids' leg Thursday next week (3rd June 2010). He will be re breaking Reid's leg in two places and fitting three rings on a Spacial frame. The last two frames Reid has had were only two rings, this one will require three as there will be two breaks. I will keep you all posted. x

Cast Number 10!

Reid and I made the pilgrimage back to Brisbane last Thursday to have the Illarzarov frame removed. This time surgery was to take place at the Holy spirit Hospital in Chermside. Lovely Hospital and very quick. We went in at 11.30am, surgery was at 2pm and we were out of there by 5pm!! Not bad I thought. We stayed with friends for the night. Reid's leg was put into a plaster cast and he and his little friends enjoyed scribbling all over it that night. Kept them entertained whilst I enjoyed a glass or two of Red!
Reid recovers so quickly now from General anesthetics. In a way I feel very lucky that he has very little fear inside operating theatres; but on the other side of that thought how unfair all of this has been to him - I counted that this GA was his 8th. and This Green cast is his 10TH!!!!
The next day we went over to Royal Childrens Hospital and Scott in the Plaster room had the dubious task of removing the plaster cast. This is a procedure that Reid should be used to ...but he hates it. When the cast was removed, Dot from Orthotics moulded his leg for a new leg brace. Yep, he has to go into a new brace and this time it will go right up his leg over the knee. I will post a pic when we get it.
After he was moulded Scott replastered Reid's leg in this pretty Green colour! Reid now resembles Kermit!
The new brace should be ready in two weeks so in the meantime Reid is not allowed to swim or get the leg wet. He has open wounds under the green cast (from the pin sites on the Illarzarov)and we will have to deal with these when it is removed, hopefully all will be fine.
Reid is very well, we are so very lucky.

Transformer No.2

We ducked and weaved the initial diagnosis back in March that Reid needed another Illarzarov frame to help his leg mend from a break he sustained in December 2007. I honestly thought his leg was getting better. He seemed to have no pain and the way he was running around, climbing trees and riding his bike, I thought I had good reason to question the two highly professional Orthopaedic surgeons looking after my son! But even though they did agree with me to begin with, the leg failed to get better so last Monday July 27th, we went back to The Wesley Hospital and had another frame attached. Reid also had to have a small bone graft to help the growth along from his right hip. The Op went very well and the original grafted bone is apparently looking very good. Dr Pincus also removed a rod that was in Reids leg from his original surgery and took out some scar tissue under his growth plate. Reid woke up from surgery very well with plenty of morphine on board. We got out of hospital on Thursday 30th July and have decided to take this week off school as well (more due to the massive influx of the Swine Flu).
We go back to Dr Pincus for a check up next Monday 10th, until then we have to get reid used to wearing a shoe...he hasn't worn a shoe on his right foot since May 2007!

2 Years GONE!

Can you believe it? It was two years ago today that David and I were told that something sinister was growing in our sons' leg! All those days spent in hospital, fighting, praying, crying, being emoitonally and physically drained seem so long ago. Its a strong, poignant memory, but one that (thankfully) is fading as I watch Reid cope easily with his day to day activities.
A month ago it was thought he would have to have another Illarzarov frame put on, as a break from December 2008 just didn't seem to want to heal. However two days before the op I phone the Orthopaedic surgeon and asked if would be possible for him to see us before the op as I thought Reid was much better. We had another x-ray and Dr Pincus compared it with the one taken a month prior - amazingly, my feelings were right and the surgery has been postponed (hopefully indefinately) We see Dr Pincus again next week for another check up, but gaging on Reid's mobility all looks great.

I drop him off and pick him up twice a week from Gymnastics!@! I know; what a full circle we have come.

Reid will continue to have MRI's and CT Scans for next few years until remission is finished (approx 4 years to go). He will see Orthopaedic surgeons for the rest of his lfe but the visits will become fewer. He will most probably walk with a limp and he may not be able to run - but with the big picture in site - who cares.
If anything changes I will update, but at the moment, David and I are celebrating our two year anniversary quietly but very happily.

Reid ready for the Peak to Park event | Sport | Toowoomba Chronicle

Reid ready for the Peak to Park event | Sport | Toowoomba Chronicle

Just a Quick Update

Reid is so well. He has started hydro therapy and his walking is slowly coming along. Yesterday we filled our pool all ready for summer. Today is cold and wet and the pool, is almost too full! Reid got through his last x-ray and given the all clear again. We have a bone density test scheduled for the 19th September and CT scans and MRI on the 10th October.
I am slowly getting back to normal. I seem to have melted since we were given the all clear, and my skin has been terrible. But with the help of dermatologists and counsellors I am now feeling a lot better.
Every day I thank God for how lucky we are. I now have a renewed feeling of what life is all about, and without sounding too "airy fairy", I dont think I really appreciated anything until I nearly lost it.....Someone recently told me that "our Wealth is the Health of our children". This is so true. Without Alex and Reid, David and I are nothing. Nothing else matters. Cherish your kids and their health. xx