Update on Lily

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to give a quick update on our last visit to SLC.

Unfortunatley on our way to the hospital to have her third cast

removed she developed a fever in the car on the way. I knew they

would most likely cancel it with a fever so when we got there I did

not let the nurses remove the cast which they kept pushing me to do.

We stayed the night and her fever did not pass so they canceled it

the next morning. Luckily I have family about a 45 min. drive from

the hospital so we were able to stay in town and extend our plane

tickets back home to Oklahoma and they were able to get us in the

very next week. Her fever went away the day she was supposed to get

casted and she never developed a runny nose, cough, or anything. I

think she was just finding away to get out of the whole process!!

HAHA

We could not have had a better visit though. In her fourth cast

she is at 5* cobb and 0* rvad. We are so happy! Dr. D mentioned

putting her in a brace next visit. I talked with him for a while and

I decided I would rather do one more cast and then a brace. He was a

little shocked. He said most moms are so excited to get out of a

cast they can hardly wait. I just feel that while she is still so

young I would rather be safe than sorry then take her out of a cast

prematurely. She still has some good growth spurts in her and I

don't want to risk taking a step back. We are both so used to the

cast, I don't even think she knows she has one on since she has been

in it for almost a year.

She also has bi-lateral hip dysplaysia. Many of you might

remember Lily in a full body cast with her legs spread way out.

Well, her hips have not gotten any worse, but have also not gotten

any better. We are gong to monitor them until the age of 4 or 5 and

decide from there whether to do surgery or not. So until then she

sleeps in a brace at nap time and bed time for her hips. Keep her in

your prayers for her hips to get better. We are scheduled to go back

to SLC Oct. 4th and 5th for her last cast and be molded for a brace

as well. I am worried about the brace. Do any of you have a brace

you favor over other types. I have heard they are so different than

casts and they are more uncomfortable. Any advice would help before

actually getting the brace made.

Our family could not be more grateful to Hyatt and the

work she has done to make this all possible. She has asked our

family to write a story about Lily and her progress to use on the web

site, being that Lily was the first to be treated for hips and spine

at the same time using the casting technique. We are working on that

and are excited to share our story so others can be helped like we

have. I love reading everyones updates and hope everyone continues

to receive great news about their children and their treatment.

Thanks

and Mike Hansen

Lily Hansen (4-12-04)