3 Weeks Post-PERCS

Andrew is now 3 weeks post-PERCS after SDR. He is still wearing casts, so is using his wheelchair far more than we want him to right now. Casts come off tomorrow morning and then it is back to using his walker full time! We are all very excited for that. In the meantime, the dressings on the incisions are off and the steri-strips have finally come all the way off. Being that I am NOT a nursey person, I have to tell you that I found that part of the healing to be entirely disgusting and I am very happy that I don't have to watch those things come off anymore.

Andrew is doing great in therapy! It is awesome to see his heels striking the floor and his knees mostly straight.

He didn't lose much of the strength that he had gained post-SDR in this surgery, so we are really hoping that once the casts are off, he will improve rapidly. An added bonus to the casts is that it adds a level of difficulty to his exercises. Basically, the kid is weight training. :)

Check out these pictures from last week's therapy session!

And then... this happened. Andrew felt stable and decided to try letting go on his own. His heels are flat. His knees are not completely straight yet, but that will come with gaining more strength.

In the last 2 years, this 10-year old kid has gone through 3 surgeries (2 lengthening, 1 SDR), 2 hospital stays, 2 castings, various bracing systems, knee immobilizers, and 100s of hours of physical therapy (over 100 just since November). Even though he does get frustrated and burnt out occasionally, he is determined and is pushing himself hard. His shirt says it all: defeat is not an option.

If you want to donate to Andrew's therapy/medical costs, click here: www.youcaring.com/helpandrewwalk