Re: We're back from Salt Lake City with our update....

[Guest guest]

Hey Jacki and Siobhan,

Congratulations!!!! I was so happy, I got all teary for you both! What fantastic news! So Siobhan is comfortable in her cast is she? I can't wait to see a photo of the pink and purple.

How soon after did she fly? I have been showing Bridget the photos of the other kids in their casts. I can't wait for her to join the photo spreads.

We are so happy for you both

Love Bert & Bridgetjabostock <jabostock@...> wrote:

Hi AllWe've just arrived home, but I wanted to post and let you all know how Siobhan got on with her 2nd cast applied by Dr D'Astous.Before her first cast, her curves were 45 Lumbar and 28 Thorasic. X-rayed in her first cast her lumbar curve was 32*, and her thorasic 20*.OK, ready for the news....... Her lumbar curve in this 2nd cast is 8 degree's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... Yup, y'awl read that correctly, 8 degree's. I didn't know whether to scream or cry (both with joy LOL!!!!) Her thorasic is either 14 or 17, Dr D'Astous said that the cartilidge around the vertebrae is abit squashed (not serious apparently ??), making the x-ray difficult to read accurately.This new cast (pink and purple - Siobhan's choice!) is tighter, and Dr D'Astous wants it to stay on for 3 months, not 8-10 weeks. He has agreed to apply

one more cast in Nov/Dec., and then Siobhan will go back into a brace. We honestly don't know for sure what will happen with Siobhan's scoliosis in the future with her underlying Connective Tissue Disorder (Possible Marfan Syndrome), but we have a doctor we trust totally, who is on-board with what's best for our daughter.Siobhan had another very positive experience in Utah, where she got to play with her friend Kylie (who was there the first time we went), and we also got to meet Breanne. (What a sweetheart!). By the next day she was back to her normal self, running and jumping around![, again I thank you for leading me down this "casting road". I'll call you.....]Better get back to catching up on the last few days.Jacki and Siobhan xxx__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Jacki,

That is such GREAT news!! I am so excited for you!!

Lets tallk soon!! I want to hear all about your trip.

Crista

[Guest guest]

Hi Bert

Thanks for the kind words. I think I posted a photo of Siobhan in

her first cast on the photo's page, but it hadn't been 'fiber-

glassed' at that point, making it harder to see! As soon as I figure

out how to post from our new camera I'll let you all know!!!! It

really helps Siobhan to see other kids in their casts. Infact she

talks about her (scolio) friends in Utah (ALOT)!

As for travel... Siobhan had her cast applied on Tuesday under

general anesthetic (no bad reactions there, she was munching on a

full lunch just a couple of hours later! LOL), and we travelled home

on Thursday morning. The x-ray and any trimming/adjustments were

made on Wednesday when the plaster is dry.

I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience with the Ortho in

Australia. He sounds so typical of alot of them - scalpel happy',

rude and set in his ways!

This is only our 2nd cast, so I know that there's parents out there

with more experience, but " cast syndrome " ! HONESTLY!!!!!! I think

you are totally right in thinking it was just a scare tactic!

Have you looked into Shriner's? Can you apply if you're not

US/Canadian? Atleast then you'd only need the flight money.... Where

in Oz are you? I'm all out of other suggestions - sorry!

Hang in there Bert! It can only get better..... We're thinking of

you and Bridget.

Love Jacki and Siobhan xxxx

> Hi All

> We've just arrived home, but I wanted to post and let you all know

> how Siobhan got on with her 2nd cast applied by Dr D'Astous.

> Before her first cast, her curves were 45 Lumbar and 28

Thorasic.

> X-rayed in her first cast her lumbar curve was 32*, and her

thorasic

> 20*.

> OK, ready for the news....... Her lumbar curve in this 2nd cast is

> 8 degree's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... Yup, y'awl read that correctly,

8

> degree's. I didn't know whether to scream or cry (both with joy

> LOL!!!!) Her thorasic is either 14 or 17, Dr D'Astous said that

the

> cartilidge around the vertebrae is abit squashed (not serious

> apparently ??), making the x-ray difficult to read accurately.

>

> This new cast (pink and purple - Siobhan's choice!) is tighter,

and

> Dr D'Astous wants it to stay on for 3 months, not 8-10 weeks. He

has

> agreed to apply one more cast in Nov/Dec., and then Siobhan will

go

> back into a brace. We honestly don't know for sure what will

happen

> with Siobhan's scoliosis in the future with her underlying

> Connective Tissue Disorder (Possible Marfan Syndrome), but we have

a

> doctor we trust totally, who is on-board with what's best for our

> daughter.

>

> Siobhan had another very positive experience in Utah, where she

got

> to play with her friend Kylie (who was there the first time we

> went), and we also got to meet Breanne. (What a sweetheart!). By

the

> next day she was back to her normal self, running and jumping

around!

>

> [, again I thank you for leading me down this " casting

road " .

> I'll call you.....]

>

> Better get back to catching up on the last few days.

>

> Jacki and Siobhan xxx

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jacki!

WOW!!!!

Lumbar curves are not that easy to get down!

Im sure everyone involved with the casting was very proud of their work...and they should be!! Now, it can continue growing in that more corrected position and hopefully this pattern will continue!

I would like to see what Siobhans last doc has to say about this...Although, Im sure that he will come up w/ some sort of scare tactic, or some way to discount the great news!!

Im glad we know better!

Great job Jackie!

talk soon,

Hugs for our 8 degree girl!!

HRH