The following information is from Katie & Reagan's blog - I don't know if you check their blog but we thought she did a really good job explaining where they are in the process of Will's prosthetics - and so many of you are so kind to ask us about Will's medical care that we thought this might be the best way to convey the information.
One of my [Katie's] new roles is that of an educator. I am learning how to teach others about kids with differences, appropriate vocabulary, etc. This summer we are learning all about prosthetics and we would like to share with you what we are learning! It truly is an art that makes a difference in lives. Last Friday, Will began the prosthetic experience with a casting. Literally, the prosteticist put casts on each of his legs. He had to lay very still and fortunately did so thanks to cartoons on a little tv above his head and me feeding him his milk. He also enjoyed chewing on the casting tubes. "Still" is not exactly in his vocabulary - we were very proud of him!
First the prosteticist made a series of measurements of each leg. Then she wrapped each leg in gauze and used a special marker to mark the "landmarks" (bones). Then she used more gauze and wet plaster to create the cast. Eash one took 5 minutes or so to dry. She then used several cool tools and a razor to to gently cut the cast off. This whole process took about one hour. In two weeks, we will return for Step Two: Test Sockets (more on that to come later).
People often ask when are we going to do hand prosthetics. Let me go ahead and state our thoughts on prosthetics. This is a very exciting although very emotional experience for us. We do not take this decision lightly. It is very important to us that Will know we accept his body and that we are doing prosthetics for him only as an option. They will be able to come on and off. We want him to be comfortable with them so he can use them for certain activities if necessary. However, we will continue to work hard with him teaching him to walk on his own feet as we want him to know that this is okay too. [As a sidebar - he is pulling up all the time now and last weekend learned to climb up stairs.] We do not want him to feel he has to use the prosthetics. We just want to make them available for him. Ultimately it will be his decision to do what works best for him.
We've read stories of other people with limb differences who are quite successful with a prosthesis (such as Roger Crawford, professional tennis player)and of those who are quite successful without a prosthesis (like Kyle Maynard, world record setter in weight lifting and college wrestler). We likely will not do hand prosthestics. There is no sense of feeling in a prosthesis and generally a child born with hand differences has already compensated and learned how to do anything they need to with the hand they have. For instance, Will can grab toys, he can crawl and he can feed himself. Sometimes, kids will get hand prosthetics for a one-time use. We've been told that girls have been known to get a prosthesis so they can get a manicure for their Prom. With boys, it tends to be so they can better play a particular sport (such as golf). So, at this point, there is nothing Will needs a hand prosthesis for.
Yes, we are excited to begin this process with Will. However, it is somewhat of an emotional time for us and we enter yet another new world of new faces, a new language and a new "normal". Hopefully, you'll enjoy learning about this process along with us!
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