The 6th month

We are now entering the 6 month stage. For those who have not read previous posts we have now completed the 6cm lengthening of Ava's leg and are now in the process of waiting for the bone to heal. We  had x rays yesterday and you can see the progression since the previous appointment. The fibula is now completely healed and more bone has developed in between the gap in the tibia.

We saw the consultant yesterday and he is pleased with the progress on the leg and feels the frame should be off in early October. Usually patients go into plaster cast for a few weeks, but he wants Ava to be in cast for a further 6 weeks where they will do some serial casting/Ponseti treatment on her foot to try and straighten it some more.

Ava had Ponseti on her foot when she was a baby but it didn't work so not sure whether we'll see any improvement now. However, we'll give it a go as we don't have anything to lose. Ava will then go back into a splint/AFO.

It's now the school summer holidays and Ava is doing well. She is now weight bearing on her leg and can walk (albeit a short distance) without the zimmerframe. She is so determined to walk, climb and generally do what other kids are doing which has enabled her to cope well through this whole process. We haven't heard her complaining about the frame in months, she just gets on with it.

She has told us that the things she is most looking forward to when the frame and plaster casts are removed is being able to swim and walking our 4 month old puppy.  She won't have long to wait!