Well today was Dakota's 5 week checkup! I can't believe it's been 5 weeks since he had surgery, but it has been. And we have some Great News!!!
When we arrived at the clinic, we sat around for 45 minutes waiting for a room to open up. While we waited I guess they decided to get the x-ray taken care of so, we got set to go do that and then sent back out into the waiting area. Let me tell you that shuffling around from here to there and back again isn't easy when you have a 54 pound child and a wheelchair that I am guessing weighs close to 20 - 25 pounds. My biceps are going to be killer by the time this is all said and done!
LOL :)
Okay so we finally got a room an hour after our scheduled appointment time, but that's okay! We got settled in the room and a few people came in and out to ask him and I some questions. We got to see the x-ray and found that the femur that had been cut during surgery has completely healed up and is holding the ball joint of his hip nicely into the socket. So our hope is that when the ball joint deteriorates and then grows new bone it will stay in place where it is now. The incision was looked at and all is good with that. It has healed nicely has well. So good news there. Our new restrictions are: he can sit at a 90 degree angle, but not to lean forward. He has to use a walker to help him walk for the next two weeks and then if he is able to move on to crutches he can do so. He is not allowed to put all his weight on his right leg, but is allowed partial weight bearing. He got the okay to go back to school, so his first day back is tomorrow, which he is super excited about. We have a field trip to Famous Dave's which I am lucky enough to be a part of. While in school he has to stay in his wheelchair still, but as he regains mobility in his leg he will eventually not have to use it. He is also required to have physical therapy once a week for the next 6-8 weeks to help him regain strength in his leg. The doctor had a couple concerns to keep an eye on. Dakota has lost 4.5 pounds in the last 5 weeks because he is just not hungry (he hardly eats). So I have been instructed to get him on PediaSure so that he is getting all the nutrients he needs. Then we have to keep an eye on Dakota and depression. In the last 5 weeks he has seemed to just be sad :( But the doctor says that happens to a lot of kids when they go from having an active life to not being able to do hardly anything and thinks that once he gets back into school around his friends he will snap out of it. I hope so, but we will see :)
So after we met with the doctor we got shipped over to the gym in the clinic for our first physical therapy session and wow talk about overwhelming, but I was so proud of him for giving it is all and doing his best. He was told to lay down and then had his leg moved around up and down and in and out, to see what his range of motion was. Apparently for having surgery only 5 weeks ago he has really good range of motion, which is good. It means with continued physical therapy it will continue to get better. He was then given a walker and was shown how to use it. Slide the walker forward, step with your right foot very lightly and then step with his left foot full weight bearing. It was a challenge, but he got the hang of it pretty quickly. He then was given crutches to try the same concept with and we decided that we are not ready for the crutches just yet.
Anyway, so we are all set for school tomorrow (I think) (I hope). I have to take care of a few things yet, but it looks like we are on our way to a good recovery. Woohoo :)
