A Miracle...Just Around the Corner

I will start this by saying: I love telemedicine with all my heart!!!! Yesterday was our first appointment to our local ortho clinic where we saw both a local ortho doctor and also our Shriners doctor (Dr. S) via computer. It was amazing for several reasons.

When we got there (driving time about 30 minutes) we were escorted back to x-ray where pictures of Davids hips were once again taken. As he lay on the x-ray table, I couldn't help but marvel at the straightness of his legs. When you have seen your child first so tight that his knees where always pulled up and his hips were so turned that his knees touched and then you see your child so bow legged that his feet can do nothing but cross over each other......you can't possibly understand the joy of simply seeing his legs.....straight.....from his hips to his feet. It almost takes my breath away.

Once x-rays were completed then we were called back to a narrow hallway outside a conference room. We were third and last in line behind two other families. I had no idea how this process worked or how long we would be there. Luckily David was just so happy to be out of the house that he was pretty patient through it all. While we sat there I thought back over all the wonderful things David seems to be doing 6 weeks out from surgery. Not only are his legs straight but we are down to using his spika leg braces every other night. He is now up and about most of the day and I am sure he would have been doing this much sooner had he not been sick. He has already gotten up on his knees and he has let me know in no uncertain terms, that he is ready to start sleeping upstairs in his own room again. I have been waiting until we have gone an entire week without a seizure. Today is that day!!!!! Finally...he seems to be able to sit comfortably once again in his "own" wheelchair. Yes....he seems to be progressing nicely. At least to me he is but I couldn't help but wonder what the doctors we were about to see would say. The familiar churning in my stomach was starting to make me question everything.

We waited for about 20 minutes and then I could hear Dr. S's voice in the conference room. Once that happened then the family at the head of the line were called back. I was told by the lady who set up our appointment that sometimes the appointments lasted 5 minutes and sometimes 25 minutes. It just depended on the child and their circumstances. We were prepared to wait, however.....within 15 minutes we were the next ones in line. When I heard us being called back, I couldn't help but be amazed at the ease of all of this so far.

Once in the conference room, we could see Dr. S on a huge screen and the other ortho was in the room also. David went wild waving and saying "Hi!" as he saw the good doctor and crew.  Dr. S asked for today's x-rays which apparently could be easily put in his view.  He said he was beyond pleased with what he saw and the other ortho apparently was too. He asked how David had been and I told him of the seizures and flu and he asked if David were 100% yet? I said that I thought he was. He said "Then get him his new orthotics and get him going to physical therapy at the hospital. I want to see him in 4 months and I want to see him walking by then." The absoluteness of it both thrilled me and terrified me. Four months and David walking? Was it possible that we were that close to this miracle that he has suffered so much for? God willing we are getting closer.

Our entire appointment lasted about an hour and our time with Dr. S was about 10 minutes long. The greatest thing though was that as we went out to get in the car I realized that the trip home that lie ahead of us was not 7.5 hours but a mere half hour. It was an amazing feeling and I was happy and grateful and excited and scared as I realized how much of a life changer these next few months could really be.

In the next few days the weather in our area is suppose to be nice. We are finally all well and David got an amazing thumbs up from Dr. S. While I long ago quit trying to plan, I have never lost hope and so with that I have every hope that by June, Davids life.....and all our lives for that matter, are going to look very different. With all of this I can't help but wonder......could there really be a miracle just around the corner?