5.6 and growing: Final Plan for Lengthening

We saw Dr. Scott today and used a very scientific way to make sure we were getting an accurate measurement as we approach our final days of lengthening: it involved a high tech paper clip, ruler and a calculator :-)

Dr. Scott taped a paperclip to Mary's leg before her x-ray so he could measure the actual paperclip, vs. the x-ray of the paperclip then he applied the difference to the measurement the x-ray showed of Mary's leg. The end result is we have gotten 5.6 cm. (Goal has been 5-7cm.)

Taped paper clip to Mary's leg for the x-ray

X-ray of 5.6 (see the paper clip!)

Close up of the 5.6 cm!

Measuring the paper clip to determine the distortion of the x-ray

The plan is to take 3 days off to give her body a break and time to catch up. She is getting more and more of the pulses from her nerves feeling the stress of the lengthening.

Then we will lengthen for 10 days straight in hopes to get to 6.6 cm then stop lengthening permanently.

The long awaited procedure to remove the most annoying pieces on her thigh and foot should be around August 2.

Mary has been getting nervous about the long awaited procedure when the thigh and foot piece come off since she didn't like how she felt after the anesthesia from the unexpected wiggle procedure and how sore she was when she woke up. She was afraid Dr. Scott would "yank" the pieces out and she would be sore like last time. He explained he doesn't "yank" the pieces out so she feels better...

He does want us to continue doing whatever we have been doing for her knee since it is looking pretty good. The bad news is that involves putting the additional strut on the fixator when Mary sleeps to prevent her from bending her knee. The problem is the strut makes if very hard for Mary (and thus her parents to sleep). We are taking tonight off though because she is exhausted.

Examining Mary's knee-#1 thing he continues to watch on Mary

It was a good appointment but it was earlier than usual so Mary didn't get her extra sleep in the morning after we do remove the additional strut around 7:00 to give her a break. As a result, she felt so chilled and exhausted after the appointment we cancelled her scheduled PT appointment and she went home and stayed in bed from 10:00 to 6:00. She took an hour nap and rested the rest of the time. She hasn't had a day like that since the very beginning. She fell asleep pretty easily tonight around 9:30 (remember no additional strut to keep the leg straight tonight!)

I am taking a vacation day tomorrow to give her Daddy a break. He has been doing night duty this week and he is exhausted just like Mary!

The pin site cleanings have become very painful and a source of anxiety for Mary so Dr. Scott said we can add saline to the pin site cleaning routine. He said the sites look good. (We tried the new solution tonight and it was MUCH better for Mary.)

Dr. Scott said Mary could bring a friend for the x-ray and she chose a doll her friend gave her

X-ray of left on left and doll on the right