Noah's trip to Dr. P

[Guest guest]

Hi and Noah,

I am Pamela Karydas, and our son Konstantinos (Dinos) has been twice

to Iowa to see Dr. Ponseti. The first time, I took him there,

alone, when he was only three months old. You will LOVE Dr.

Ponseti. (Please tell him Pamela and Dinos from Greece send him a

big hug.) I'll tell you a bit about our trips. I did not stay at the

McD. house; I think I stayed at Comfort Inn, but only

because, the first time, I didn't know about the McD House, and the

second time was just an overnight so we stayed in the hotel again.

But I was told that the McD house has a shuttle bus to take people

to the hospital and for shopping, etc., and that there are kitchen

and laundry facilities and that the rooms are nice. As for seeing

Dr. Ponseti, he saw us every time exactly at our appointed time, and

he was so patient and so talkative and so wonderful with the baby

and so concerned about how I was doing; I just could not believe

it. You know how most docs are in and out of the room in two

minutes and you feel like they're just in a big hurry to get to the

next patient? You never feel like that with Dr. Ponseti. As a

matter of fact (here's a little story for you), on our first trip

there, Dinos saw Dr. Ponseti three times in ten days. At the end of

the third appointment, Dr. Ponseti was called to the phone and I

finished dressing Dinos and talking with the nurse and then, since

Dr. Ponseti had said he was done with Dinos, I left. I was

returning home to Greece the next morning and was at the hotel that

night packing when Dr. Ponseti called me at 9:30pm. He wanted to

apologize for not having a chance to say goodbye to us before we

left the hospital! So he chatted with me for a few minutes, as

though he had all the time in the world. I just could not believe

how wonderful he was to us. I know you will feel the same.

As for things to do there, I rented a car because I was there for

nearly two weeks the first time, and I was so happy to have that

car. Otherwise, I just would have stayed in the hotel room with

Dinos, who was still sleeping a lot at that time and was in casts

from toes to groin on both legs. It will be better for you because

at the McD house, you'll have other people to talk with. Anyway, I

had the rental car and I had Dinos' car seat and stroller, so I just

took myself off to some place every day-- shopping, restaurants,

parks, whatever, just to be out of the room and have somebody to

talk with besides a three-month-old! There is a huge shopping mall

and I spent a lot of time mall walking with the stroller, and (my

favorite) having a nice cup of tea at & Noble while reading a

book during Dinos' naps. I also went to a couple of movies at the

mall, taking Dinos in his stroller while he was asleep. The theatre

employees were very nice about it, and Dinos just slept through the

movies. I also found out from Dr. Ponseti's office about some other

parents who were there at the same time, from Canada, and we phoned

each other and met for dinner and then for coffee a couple of times

at each other's hotels. It was so great to have a chance to meet

other parents going through the same experience. I also met a woman

named McLaughlin, who lives nearby and whose son Jakob was a

patient of Dr. Ponseti's. was totally fabulous and really

helped me out so much; I am forever grateful to her. I believe she

maintains this website and you can find her listed in the members

list. Anyway, I will end by saying that Dr. Ponseti gave

Dinos " early release " (as my husband calls it) from the brace when

he was only 2 1/2 years old. He's now five years old and his feet

are beautiful. He had moderate CF both feet, and we never had

surgery. Just Dr. Feldman in NY and Dr. Ponseti, the casts,

tenotomy and DBB. It wasn't easy, but it was so very worth it.

Dinos doesn't remember any of it, not even the brace, and doctors

who see his feet can't believe he was born with CF. So, you are

absolutely doing the right thing by going to Dr. Ponseti. By the

way, when you're there at the hospital, go see " The Ponseti Quilt "

which was made by one of the moms and is hanging in the hallway.

Dinos is the baby in the upper left corner. Take care and let us

know how Noah progresses. Best wishes -- Pamela

> Hey everybody my name is , my son Noah was born with club

foot

> in the left foot. He is 4 months old, we have been through the

ringer

> with casts and doctors and now they want to do sergery. I got in

> touch with Dr. Ponseti and I'm going to Iowa Aug. 2nd. I'm looking

> forward to the trip, I will be staying there until his foot

> correction is completed since I'm travling from California. I have

a

> couple of questions about when I get there for any of you who have

> made the trip. I plan to stay at

> the Mc house. How far is that from the hospital? Is

it

> a

> nice place to stay? is it a nice place for long term? Whats near

> there,

> since I wont know anybody what is there to do down there? And last

> whats it like when you go to your appoinment with Dr. Ponseti, I'm

> aware thats its a clinic on Mon, Weds, & Fri so is it like

everyone

> goes at once and the Dr makes his rounds? How long does each

> appointment take? Please I'd love to hear about anyones

experiances

> there. Thanks,

> & Noah