Something Interesting

[Guest guest]

Awhile back, when I first began to post, I mentioned a young mother

that was going to Children's Hospital at the same time as me, with a

little girl the same age as Hayden who was having all the same issues

as him; bad skin, large baby, two Botox treatments, screaming at every

appointment, thrown into the boots and bar when she wasn't ready, etc.

I had given her my phone number at one point because she was

originally coming from fairly far away for treatment and had to fly

in, stay several days, fly home and I thought she might like to hang

out some time. The last I had heard of her was one of my last

appointments at Children's and I was told that they had sent her baby

to OR to be put under to see if they could get a better casting while

she was relaxed. (Apparently that didn't work any better.)

Well, she called me last night and you won't believe what has gone on!

Her daughter has endured further Botox injections, more slipping

casts, continual skin problems and more than enough attitude from the

Orthos there.

In addition to that, at the beginning of December Dr. Alvarez finally

admitted defeat with the Botox and gave the baby tenotomies under

general anaesthesia (??) and put pins in them (again, ??). To make

matters worse, when they did this, they put the casts on too tight and

had to start again. This child has been under general at least three

times from what I can gather, which in itself is a concern to me.

They've now told her that her baby won't be able to go into the boots

and bar and will instead be fitted for an AFO on Thursday.

She said that she had enquired about me and been told that I was going

to Richmond (not right, it's New Westminster, but anyway). She was in

the middle of a move and didn't uncover my phone number until

recently, so she called to find out what I had been doing and let me

tell you, I gave her the most glowing report of Dr. Pirani I could. I

have invited her to join me at our appointment next Tuesday and she

has agreed to come. I told her that no matter what, she MUST come

with me and see how things are done at Royal Columbian.

What has me completely steamed and really scratching my head is this:

Once Dr. Alvarez realized she had to do the tenotomies, the child was

now out of her research because she is trying to prove the Botox works

and it didn't. Why for the love of all, did she not refer the baby

elsewhere? Or more specifically, Dr. Pirani? Or for God's sake, at

least consult with him? Isn't that what doctors do? I know for a

fact that this little girl also has Complex Clubfoot and Dr. Alvarez

does not even seem to know what that is. I am just hoping to get this

girl in with me at our appointment and I know that Dr. Pirani will

take the time to explain things to her and I know that she will want

to switch that day!

I'll let you know how it all pans out! I'm seriously tempted to head

up to Children's tomorrow and just thumb my nose at everyone there!

It actually gives me a little twinge of satisfaction that they had to

drop us from their research criteria too because we left! Hmph!