Good News

Had to take Jamie to Hull Royal Infirmary today to see an orthopaedic consultant.

Jamie's feet have been turning inwards for several years and he has been wearing splints for two years to help with the problem. He also walks from his hips i.e. he swings from the hips when walking. Add to this that he has no awareness of anything around him, if he spots something to head for that's all he 'sees', no humps, bumps, potholes or kerbs and his walking can be pretty bad at times. He has had a wheelchair for several months, for long distance treks, as his feet soon begin to hurt owing to the effort he puts in.

Anyway, last year Jamie's paediatrician (fantastic doctor Evans) referred him to an orthopod for an opinion on possibility of an op. I have to say I wasn't looking forward to this. My beautiful 17 year old niece has cerebral palsy and had an op, to help her walk without splints, four years ago. She went (very bravely) through immense pain and was bedridden for around six months, then had to have painful physio and basically relearn how to walk. She still doesn't walk properly but she can now walk without splints and doesn't need her wheelchair. But having watched her go through all that and seen the stress it put her parents under, I was dreading having to go through a similar scenario with Jamie. Mainly because he would never be able to understand why or what it was all for, given the level of his disability.

So today was the day we finally got to see said orthopod. Mr Johnson (top consultant for this area, no less) was very thorough and asked many questions about Jamie's health and how he coped with walking etc. He took Jamie for a walk round,with and without splints, and manipulated his legs and hips every which way. His decision --------NO OP NEEDED.
He felt Jamie coped well with his splints and that his problems came more from his hips than his feet. He said the only reason he would consider an op worthwhile was if Jamie was tripping over his own feet, which isn't the case. He would have to have four seperate ops, involving breaking bones and fitting plates, which Mr Johnson felt would be far to traumatic for Jamie and far to hard for us to cope with the aftercare involved and it wouldn't make his walking much better than it is now.

It was like a weight lifting off our shoulders. I love Jamie dearly and want the best for him but to have to make a decision like this was really worrying. Knowing what I would be putting him through, how do you decide what is best? Great pain and suffering for slightly better walking - or no pain, no suffering but wondering if he would end up in a wheelchair permanantly? Such a relief not to have to be in that position.
Dr Johnson wants to keep an eye on Jamie's progress so wants to see him once a year, in case there is a significant change and a rethink will be required. But for now we can go back to getting on with the daily grind and hope and pray change is not in the air.