Re: I can't believe this. Any advice?

January 31, 2006

The hospital we go to has tours for children his age. It shows them around and

where they would stay if it is not outpatient. They are able to ask questions

and get more familiar with it. You could see if your hospital offers something

like this.

11/19/04

lynnekruchten wrote:

My younger son Aidan has bcf, dbb 23/7 at 10 mos of age. He has

endured two heel cord tenotomies.

I now have an appointment for my older son Devon (3½) to see the same

Orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Noonan) tomorrow for trigger finger. I

anticipate a surgical procedure in his future and was wondering if any

of you other clubfoot parents have advice for how to prepare him for a

surgery. Due to Aidan's young age I didn't have to prepare him.

I know this is sort of off the clubfoot topic but I could use some

experienced advice.

January 31, 2006

The hospital we go to has tours for children his age. It shows them around and

where they would stay if it is not outpatient. They are able to ask questions

and get more familiar with it. You could see if your hospital offers something

like this.

11/19/04

lynnekruchten wrote:

My younger son Aidan has bcf, dbb 23/7 at 10 mos of age. He has

endured two heel cord tenotomies.

I now have an appointment for my older son Devon (3½) to see the same

Orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Noonan) tomorrow for trigger finger. I

anticipate a surgical procedure in his future and was wondering if any

of you other clubfoot parents have advice for how to prepare him for a

surgery. Due to Aidan's young age I didn't have to prepare him.

I know this is sort of off the clubfoot topic but I could use some

experienced advice.

January 31, 2006

Lynne-

The first thing you will want to do is get as much information from your child's

doctor as you can. What kind of anesthesia will they use? Will you be able to

go back with your child to the operating room, to help him go under the

anesthetic? Will he need to stay overnight? What will they use for pain

medication after surgery?

As far as preparing Jake for the surgery itself, we started about a week before

surgery (we didn't want him to be scared and anticipating surgery for a long

time before the actual date), and tried to introduce something new each day.

Above all we tried to be as upbeat as possible and not let on that we were

nervous about it. We talked about having to wear funny pajamas (the

scrubs)....that we would go with him and stay with him as long as we could, and

we would be there when he woke up. We also told him that his foot would be sore

afterwards but that there would be medicine we could give him to make it feel

better. In Jake's case he had a cast on; we talked about the cast and what

color he might like it to be and I found some pictures of him in his previous

casts (in most of them he was smiling thank goodness). We also talked about how

he wouldn't be able to have a bath afterwards, because of the cast.

I would bring along some activities for your child to do after surgery. What

does he like to play with? I'd bring along some new things-- new matchbox cars,

books, coloring books (if the surgery is not on his dominant hand), movies, etc.

One of the best things I did with Jake for both of his surgeries was to make him

a photo album. I included his favorite things to do as well as family members.

It was a great thing to use as a distraction when he was uncomfortable.

One thing to keep in mind is that surgery will be harder on you than your child.

He will bounce back really well, and it's amazing how kids compensate when they

have a cast on. Jake could still do just about everything, including going to

the bathroom, even with a cast on!

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or need more ideas.

Kassia

3/22/01 (Lt clubfoot, ATTT #2 October 2005)

and 11/22/02

January 31, 2006