Update after unscheduled appt.

Well today was certainly an interesting appointment. We explained some hardware was loose and we suspected Mary had an infection.

• Dr. Scott examined Mary and confirmed based on the redness and additional tenderness it did appear that an infection was brewing. He confirmed it is important to keep the area clean so the bacteria doesn't grow. Mary probably didn't like that because the cleanings are really painful when it's infected. So we received a prescription for an antibiotic. Unlike a normal RX where it is important to complete the antibiotic even once you feel better, our instructions are to take it until she does feel better then stop. He is guessing about 4 days. Since we have months to go you don't want to build up a resistance to the antibiotic so soon.
• He also swapped out the piece that had become loose on Sunday on the top 2 pin sites. (I will add a picture later.)
• He confirmed using Babybel Cheese Wax was a good solution for covering the ends of broken wires. :-)

Remember this picture

• Mary also had an orthodontist appointment today and the Orthodontist helped trim her broken wire since Daddy hasn't had time to go buy wire cutters. Pretty funny!
• Mary had an X-Ray to confirm there were no problems with her femur and/or knee as a result of the loose hardware.

X-Ray of thigh

• The great news is it looks like we are at 3 cm. If everything was precise we should be at 3 cm. on Friday, June 15 so we may be ahead  a few days! AND the bone looks VERY straight and filling in well. YEAH!!!

1st X-Ray after surgery on May 22



X-Ray on May 29 confirming 1 cm!



X-Ray on June 12 confirming 3 cm!

• So the 2 cm. cake her cousins gave her this weekend was well deserved!

• He did remind us that we will most likely need to take breaks from lengthening at times since things start to get really tight.
• We got our second RX for the daily lengthening. It should get us to 6 cm. if all goes well.

The 2 unexpected items were:

• Dr. Scott wants to do a minor procedure next week once he finds some Operating Room time. He wants to put Mary under to check the upper hardware is still correctly aligned and to stretch her knee because it is pretty tight. The whole procedure should take 20 minutes.
• Also he will no longer have an office at Children's where he has been for the 9 years we have known him. He will be down the street at a medical office. So we will see him and have X-Rays at the new office. Procedures will still be done at Children's or John Muir depending on schedules.

Mary got upset at the end of the appointment which threw Dr. Scott because she has been amazing through this whole process so far. Her Daddy was able to talk to her afterwards about it and she was upset about the term "knock her out" vs. the term put in a "medical sleep" that we have been using. But she was even more upset about him moving offices. My girl doesn't like change.

To be honest her parents were a little surprised too but since he is still covered by our insurance and procedures will still be at facilities that work with children they are OK now. :-)

It was also weird for me last night and this morning because Mary wants help again moving her leg (e.g. up and down the stairs) like initially since her quad is so tender.

We are going to go back on Tylenol for the tenderness from the infection and the Physical Therapist suggests it prior to PT too since it is a strain on everything. Mary has not been a fan of the PT we have to do throughout the day.

We are still scheduled to see him next Tuesday but I assume that may be cancelled. We are waiting to hear when he can do the procedure.