Michigan News Story Update

[Guest guest]

Hello to everyone,

I'm Pellegrini, the father of Pellegrini who was featured

in the posted news story from the Grand Rapids Press. Although we were

delighted that the Press featured the article on Dr. on the

front page, we were disappointed that it was so short and didn't

really go in to much detail on the Ponsetti Method or the stories of

both our and the Postema's son Brady who was also featured in

the article.

What they didn't tell in our case was that we found out about 's

clubfeet during an ultrasound while was still pregnant with him.

They were severely turned and we were told to see a local orthopedic

doctor who was a specialist in pediatric clubfeet. We didn't know

anything about Dr. Posetti at the time so we decided to do as

recommended. The day after was born the orthopedic doctor

casted his feet in the hospital. had three castings with this

doctor and then wore AFO boots for a few weeks afterward. But after

six weeks we really didn't see any progress. Every time we took off

the AFO boots, his feet would turn inward again. Plus the AFO boots

hurt his feet, he would cry every time he wore them. Finally, at the

last appointment we had with the orthopedic doctor, he looked at the

AFO boots and declared, " these boots are totally wrong... they should

be shaped the other way. " Although we didn't say anything to the

doctor at the time we both were shocked. After all, the doctor was the

one who prescribed the design of the boot to the orthocist... why was

he now claiming the design was wrong? Then we also found out that the

orthopedic doctor wasn't really a specialist in pediatrics or club

feet at all. We knew then and there we needed to see someone else.

The next week, had an appointment with his pediatricians, Dr.

Dana Leary and Dr. Jokerst here in Grand Rapids, and before

even said anything, they asked if we would be open to another

form of treatment. Turns out they had just attended a lecture with Dr.

on the Ponsetti method and wanted us to try it with

. So we immediately made the appointment and saw Dr. the

following Monday. The difference for was astounding. He would

cry and scream at the orthopedic doctor's office, but with Dr.

and his nurse Donna, he smiled and laughed. We could tell right away

that he liked this treatment a lot better.

As it says in the article, after the first casts from Dr. came

off was stunned at how straignt his feet were. I was't able to

be there for it but I could see the difference with the second set of

casts. After just four casts his feet are completely straight looking

and he is now in the boots and brace. When we take the boots off his

feet remain straight and show no sign of turning inward like they used

to with the AFOs.

He's now four months old and is in the three month phase of wearing

the boots all day and night, and doing very well. spoke to the

Postemas, the other couple in the article, and it sounds like their

son is doing well with Dr. 's treatments too. Even after the

surgery that Brady had it sounds like there's hope that his feet will

be much better.

Also, Dr. has now completed his certification with Dr. Ponsetti

and is now on the approved list of doctors. We're grateful that we met

Dr. and you can add us to the list of people who will recommend

the Ponsetti Method to everyone.

Thanks for letting me post, and thanks for this message board.

Pellegrini