Re: Dr. Rubery - Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York

[Guest guest]

I just emailed you off the group...

Welcome to CAST.

and Evan

Subject: Dr. Rubery - Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New YorkTo: infantile_scoliosis Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 9:18 PM

We are new to ISOP but would like to share our story regarding our son and would appreciate your comments and support.Our son, , is 20 months old and his thoraxic curve is currently at 40 degrees and his spine is rotated. When we first discovered his scoliosis, in January of this year, his curve was 29 degrees. His doctor recommended to first wait and see, then that he be placed in a brace in November. This time period allowed the curvature to unfortunately progress significantly. When we went to the specialist to have the brace made, it was recommended that he have an MRI done prior to any treatment. After the MRI, we are going to have him evaluated by Dr. Rubery and have a serial plaster cast applied. We would appreciate any further insights from your experiences and of course welcome all support given.We live in the panhandle of West Virginia and would welcome any "local"

families' information regarding travel, lodging, and just all around general helpful hints.Thanks,The Sine Family

[Guest guest]

Hi there!

I also take my daughter to Strong Memorial to another casting doc located at that hospital and have had wonderful experiences there.... Feel free to e-mail me off-line with any questions.... We've become pretty familiar with Rochester life!!!! Steph

Subject: Dr. Rubery - Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New YorkTo: infantile_scoliosis Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 2:18 AM

We are new to ISOP but would like to share our story regarding our son and would appreciate your comments and support.Our son, , is 20 months old and his thoraxic curve is currently at 40 degrees and his spine is rotated. When we first discovered his scoliosis, in January of this year, his curve was 29 degrees. His doctor recommended to first wait and see, then that he be placed in a brace in November. This time period allowed the curvature to unfortunately progress significantly. When we went to the specialist to have the brace made, it was recommended that he have an MRI done prior to any treatment. After the MRI, we are going to have him evaluated by Dr. Rubery and have a serial plaster cast applied. We would appreciate any further insights from your experiences and of course welcome all support given.We live in the panhandle of West Virginia and would welcome any "local"

families' information regarding travel, lodging, and just all around general helpful hints.Thanks,The Sine Family

[Guest guest]

Hi -

We just returned yesterday from Rochester, where our son, Guthrie, got his first cast. Kauffunger, another Rochester parent posting below, has been a great support for our family already, and I hope that I can share any useful info with you and other Rochester families.

Logistically, we live in NJ and it's about a 6 hour drive for us. You should definitely ask your doctor’s assistant about Strong Guest Services (http://www.stronghealth.com/patientsvisitors/relatedlocalserv/smhguestserv.cfm) for accommodations. They can arrange accommodations at the RIT Inn & Conference Center (http://www.ritinn.com) -- it's nice, got an indoor pool, food, 4 miles from the hospital and clinic. I highly recommend it -- especially since through your doctor’s office, you may be eligible for a free night and then all additional nights are $40+ tax. They had a pack n’ play for us, too. I think Strong Guest Services might even provide food vouchers. And I believe there's a free shuttle to/from the hospital.

In terms of our doctor and the hospital, we were very happy. Everyone is totally on board with Mehta casting and they are so warm and sincere and interested and caring and knowledgeable.

We stayed two nights -- consult with our doctor on Wednesday, casting on Thursday morning, and then we stayed around to make sure the cast fit well. We went back to our doctor’s clinic on Friday morning to get some of the cast trimmed off under Guthrie's chin, and that was very convenient to do -- no appointment or waiting at all.

Please feel free to email me off line if you’d like to discuss anything more specifically, and good luck!

Warmly,

amanda@...

>

>

> Subject: Dr. Rubery - Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York

> To: infantile_scoliosis

> Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 2:18 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> We are new to ISOP but would like to share our story regarding our

> son and would appreciate your comments and support.

>

> Our son, , is 20 months old and his thoraxic curve is

> currently at 40 degrees and his spine is rotated. When we first

> discovered his scoliosis, in January of this year, his curve was 29

> degrees. His doctor recommended to first wait and see, then that he

> be placed in a brace in November. This time period allowed the

> curvature to unfortunately progress significantly. When we went to

> the specialist to have the brace made, it was recommended that he

> have an MRI done prior to any treatment. After the MRI, we are going

> to have him evaluated by Dr. Rubery and have a serial plaster cast

> applied. We would appreciate any further insights from your

> experiences and of course welcome all support given.

> We live in the panhandle of West Virginia and would welcome

> any " local " families' information regarding travel, lodging, and just

> all around general helpful hints.

>

> Thanks,

>

> The Sine Family

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there - I usually don't have time to reply to these, but here are my

few words of advise. The first cast is the hardest...my son,

was 16 months. He is now over 2 years old. Each cast

takes a little bit of adjustment, I think, but now just one day or so

and masters the cast. You son will too. Just keep

distracting him with things he likes, and don't make him work too hard

to get frustrated but take little steps. If we need to do

anything to the cast or keep him still, we just put him in front of the

TV with his favorite show and he's fine. The adjustment also

comes into play with you and how you help him...whether it's a

different chair or a pillow to help with a different sitting angle...or

at a restuarant...or figuring how best to feed him...maybe he wants to

eat and stand for awhile...etc. Lastly, as far as diapering....we

use the Luv's Size 3. For us, the larger sizes seem to leak

more...but every child is shaped different. We use a TONGUE

DEPRESSOR between the folds of the diaper to push it up into the back

of the cast and that has helped us to prevent accidents. But, we

also try to change him right away if possible. Hope this

helps! Oh, no/little water an hour or so before bedtime. I

promise, it will get much easier and you will be amazed. Know

that through that frustrating feeling, that you've doing the best for

your son in giving him some great growing time before surgery! -

, mom to , age 2, in cast #5