Hayden in the Markells

[Guest guest]

Sorry it has taken me so long to post about this - things have been a

little crazy around here! I took Hayden to see Dr. Pirani on Tuesday

after we had removed his right cast on Monday due to major skin

breakdown and actual maceration (where the flesh had split open in the

crease about a centimetre (1/8th of an inch). The back of his knee

was very rashy (eczema like), peeling, irritated, weeping and what I

would describe as " mushy " and smelled like nothing I can describe.

Interestingly enough, this cast had only been on for two weeks, but

prior to that the tenotomy casts were on for four and he was fine.

What the...?? Well, who knows anything anymore. Not me.

Since were still waiting for the s, hubby and I had decided

that we would put Hayden into the Markells temporarily until they

arrived and I called the orthotist the night before to give her the

heads up that she'd need to bring the " tiny shoes " for Hayden's little

feet.

On the way out I was very anxious and trying to keep it together

because I was just feeling so bad about his skin, but once I got to

the hospital, the staff there are all pretty jovial and I felt better

immediately. While we waited for Dr. Pirani to have a look at

Hayden's skin, we kept the left cast on and fitted his right foot and

the orthotist advised me that the s were at the border. Good

news!

Long story short, we removed the other cast (the back of that knee was

also quite sore looking), fitted the Markells on him and he got quite

fussy which eventually escalated to full on FREAKING OUT. He was so

upset that there was no way I could ride transit back to home and

called my hubby in a panic, bawling my eyes out. He said he'd finish

up and come get me and I waited in the hospital. The orthotist

wandered by and noticed I was still there - I told her he was NOT

HAPPY and she suggested that maybe the backs of his legs were hurting

and got me some special bandages to put over the sore parts and that

helped us make it home. He was fussy most of the night and then cried

ALL. NIGHT. His longest stretch of sleep was about an hour I think.

I took heart in the knowledge that many, many people have posted

about this exact same thing and there is just a transition period.

Plus I knew the shoes were not hurting him because I had removed them

and put them back on twice and he was cool with it. Did I say long

story short? Hmmm...

By five am hubby and I were at each others' throats due to extreme

sleep deprivation and I got up to watch t.v. or something. Hayden

went back to sleep after nursing. Later that day we got a call from

the orthotist saying the s were in and hubby could come get

them (his office is conveniently two doors down from their office),

but that there were some issues with them. I'll say. They are two

different sizes and none of the hardware was sent to attach them to

the bar. Quel disappointment. Big time. Has this ever happened to

anyone else? Now we have to send them back and start over. I was so

excited to get them on Hayden, too because they are so lovely and soft.

Anyway, Hayden is fine with the Markells for now and the next night

was completely okay - he slept just fine, which was a relief. I'm

just glad to have him out of casts.

P.S. His skin is healing up just fine!