SDR Followup-Evaluation + Meeting Dr. Dobbs

Today we had back-to-back appointments in St. Louis. We haven't seen Dr. Park since Kaz's SDR surgery in April, so we were looking forward to the appointment and hearing how he felt regarding the progress Kaz has made since surgery.

Luckily he was pleased, and Kaz is still on-track. He is stronger, has much more endurance, and learning to manage life more independently. Although he's not taking independent steps consistently, we are planning to implement some new tools that will hopefully help steps come sooner. 

He tried out tripod canes during our therapy visit and seemed to do wonderfully. I'm so excited to get these and begin practice at home!

Our second appointment was with Dr. Dobbs in the orthopedic department here in the same children's hospital. He is the surgeon that specializes in lengthening tendons...

We have known that an additional procedure to get Kaz completely flat at the ankles would more than likely be needed. So, today Dr. Dobbs decided Kaz was a candidate for the surgery they call PERCS. This surgery is done mostly in the heel cord, however he decided for Kaz, the best location to perform surgery and lengthening would be in the calf. This area is extremely tight and should loosen up his legs to help Kaz get flat as well as assist him in learning to balance and another step in getting him to take steps independently. Good news is he will not be required to be casted following surgery! He also won't have any real "restrictions" post surgery, which means he can go right back into therapy, start school back next week, and straight back in to normal Kaz life!

Surgery will be first thing in the morning! This surgery is much more minor than SDR, however still a surgery. Please pray for our boy and the doctors/nurses tomorrow as they work on Kaz and help him get another step closer!

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ~ John 13:7