8 Months Out!

Well, it's been 8 months since Rhett's last surgery and he is making so much progress! He is taking steps on his own now. He has walked without help for about 10-15 steps. For long distances he uses the walker, but he has begun using arm canes. He likes it and it makes him use more leg strength, which is great. We are very happy with his ongoing progress and will meet with his spasticity team next month to evaluate. Yay Rhett!

Walking At Last!

Well, it's been about 6 months since the most recent surgery and Rhett is walking! He is a little bent, but that should get better with muscle strengthening over time. He is riding horses, doing therapy and walking all around the house. He doesn't use the walker much at home any more. He uses it at school when he needs to walk down the long halls, though. We are very happy with the results and are enjoying the progress. We know Rhett likes it, too. It's kind of easy to tell, when he refuses help as we walk into church and he yells out "Woo hoo! I did it, Grandma!"

Jail break

Rhett got out of the hospital on Tuesday October 26th. We were happy to be heading home. Rhett giggled when he first got home, even though he is still in a hospital bed in the living room. Over the past week he has escaped from his bed or wheel chair a couple of times, despite the doc's orders for him to stay on his back. He must be feeling better, or the drugs are working really well.

One month from today he'll have his follow up visit. It's going to be a battle keeping Rhett confined for a month.

Actually we're planning on sending Rhett to school this week, maybe just partial days to start. We'll see how it goes.

Hurl On

Don't you worry about us, we're in good shape. The good news - we get all of the chocolate milk we want! The bad news - Rhett decided to hurl it all over the place 3 different times!

Puke on me once, shame on you, puke on me twice, shame on me, puke on me thrice? Lock the fridge idiot!

Apparently dude is a little backed up, this was before the choco leche. A few suppositories, and he's a new man. Hopefully, he starts to keep his food down now.

Mark Daphne and Italia dropped by, no puking during the visit which is nice.

Rhett and I took a spin around the facilities in the wheel chair. It didn't last long, he couldn't wait to get back to his 6th viewing of The Shaggy Dog, apparently he's a big fan.

We should be heading home tomorrow, which is good. I'm due in Omaha tomorrow night for a quick business trip, Unless the storms keep me from leaving, which would actually be nice.

So far Rhett appears to be handling pain fairly well, maybe he's just used to it by now. I'd probably be balled up in the corner in fetal position crying mommy.

Well, hope we make it home tomorrow, lates!

Day 3 Surgery 6 - Epidural Comes Out Today

Rhett's been doing really well. After 5 hours of surgery, 17 different procedures, a toolbox of metal screws and brackets, Rhett has been pieced back together. I told the doc to just put some bionics in his legs and he'll be a superhero! or at least a super dance hero! He's been watching New Year's Rockin' Eve from 2010 and 2009. We record them every year because he loves to dance to the tunes: WillIAM, Black Eyed Peas, Kerry Hilson, Colbie Caillat, etc. It's killing him, not being able to get up and dance.

It's amazing how big he is now, growing up so fast! Here's a picture of him riding horses back when he was 4?

Rhett should be in the hospital through Tuesday. If you want to visit him, he's up at Shriner's hospital which is about 3 blocks north of South Temple and 14th East, Room 2.

Here We Go Again! Shriners Hospital Room 2

Rhett has made a lot of progress since I last posted. But earlier this year, during the summertime, he began to backslide. He quit trying to walk and seemed weaker. We were all perplexed, but after looking at x-rays, we realized his left hip was broken. It never healed right after that last big surgery, so after much wear and tear, the metal plate that was holding it in place broke. That explained his sudden loss of strength and mobility.
Thursday, Rhett underwent his 6th major surgery. Two orthopedic surgeons worked on him simulaneously for about 5 hours. This procedure included reconstructing the left hip (removing old metal, correcting the angle of the hip and then fastening a new, stronger plate). While he was sleeping, they also removed the old metal plate from the right hip, which healed fine. In addition, they addressed his severe pronation of his ankles. Currently, he's been walking on the instep of his feet. They screwed into his growth plate on the interior side of his feet to stop the growth and then lengthened bones on the exterior side of the feet. Now they should be more even and we should be able to see Rhett use the bottom of his feet when walking. Wouldn't that be something? :) Maybe we wouldn't have to buy him new shoes every week!

Here's a pic of the metal we took out Thursday, from his surgery last year. Guess we'll throw this in the tool box.

We will definitely keep posting how he is doing! Thanks everyone for your support.

Baby Stepping

Rhett is going to physical therapy sessions twice a week and I'm happy to report that they no longer lead to tears! Those first workouts are the worst (for Mom and Rhett)!

Sometimes we do regular workouts and sometimes he gets to workout at the pool, which he loves. He keeps telling his therapist, "Take your hands off me. I want to swim." I'm glad his therapist is a big, strong man because Rhett stands even taller now that his legs are not twisted. At home, Rhett spends time in his stander and also uses the walker on and off. His favorite thing he can do again is stand right by the stereo and dance all by himself.

The best part is we get to see improvement every single day. I'm glad it's coming so quickly for him. Next month he will begin riding horses again and that's a killer workout for him, plus he loves taking care of the horses.