We are so tired. So tired of dealing with this leg. After 2 weeks in first the temporary splint and no school and then 7 weeks in the long leg cast and wheelchair we finally got to rid our selves of the full cast!
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving we headed in to get it off.
Some of us were more excited than others!
We thought we were prepared for the day, but it ended up being pretty dramatic for Lou- still sore and mostly scared. Traumatic might be the better word. He is holding my hand over his eyes here.
A very sweet and patient lady spent a whole lot of time with us removing the cast. it was not as quick as the videos we prewatched online.
With it off, we were surprised to find a very hairy man leg. It was scaled and the skin was ready to be flicked off. Also, we discovered that he had developed a heel pressure sore. It was pretty bloody put they assure us it would heal up quickly.
They sent us to therapy to learn how to take care of out new set up and begin the real work.
With some struggle he learned to do things differently and everyday getting a little stronger. Honestly, the healing process was slower than we expected. SLOWER. And full of more, continued, and new struggles. At least we know there is an endpoint. This will end. I won't have to help him dress and go to the bathroom and get in and out of the car and dear hubby won't have to go get him between every class and take him to the next class.
And then, just like as your little people grow up and learn to do new things and become more independent, he did too. Instead of me putting his pants on him entirely, like a doll, I could get them up the knee and he could finish. Instead of us having to follow him into the van and lift his leg into the van seat, we just helped him get into the van and he lifted himself up into the back seat. It was almost so subtle, this progress, that you don't notice it.
He wheeled himself around school, with the help of some good buddies and daddy. Thankfully we all spend our days in the same building.
Then we got to begin learning the crutches. Bee was helpful in demonstrating.
And our days at physical therapy continued. This day on the bike was an attempt, a flop... a challenge for another day. The sore on his heel got yucky, got yellow and green sore and I cried. He cried. It felt like such a set back. But as with everything else, it's healing and we're moving on.
Under his physical therapist's instruction, one day, we lost the wheelchair. He went all crutches. Stamina needed to be built for sure. The crutches again brought more independence and new challenges.
His hands are calloused but his arms are getting stronger. We're hoping that means for strong baseball arms this spring. He's worn out at the end of the day. We are all still worn out at the end of the day but the progress is noticeable. We have to really push him- he would settle for staying the way things are. Not his mama and daddy!
People keep asking how much longer. The truth is we don't know and we haven't asked. It doesn't matter. I think we've realized that there really isn't a final day. We don't have an end point on the boot- the boot doesn't matter. Even once it's gone things will so slowly get better and surely one day we will be sitting at a baseball game and realize he's running around the bases.
