Re: New...welcoming input especially from Toronto, Ontario, & Canada

[Guest guest]

So glad to hear Aiden is doing well and your experience was a good one! Becky On 2012-04-19, at 12:10 AM, ohyearightsorry wrote:

Update...April 18th, 201

On Monday, April 16th, we drove Aidan to Erie Shriners Hospital. Two countries, 1 border crossing, 3 toll plazas, and 5 hours later, we made it! Erie Shriners is a wonderful hospital. Smaller in size than some of its cousins, and primarily an outpatient treatment facility, it feels more like a country club than a children's hospital. Inside, it has an aquatic theme, with fish in the floor tiles, sea life on the walls, and even up on the ceiling! There's a volunteer demonstrating crafts to kids in the waitin

g room, and there's even a Train table for kids to play with. The staff are so caring and friendly, and go out of their way to ensure that children feel welcome and secure. We met with Dr. C. for about 45 minutes. He's one of those docs where we listened to him and he listened to us...you know what I mean? He rolled out all the scenarios from good to bad, and when he suggested Mehta casting, we were all smiles.

So casting was the next morning, on the 17th. We were admitted at 8am to pre-op, but due to an unforseen delay from a surgery before Aidan, we didn't get our little guy into the laughing gas until 10:45. But the staff were great at keeping Aidan occupied with toys and dvds, so much so that he never complained about his empty stomach! The pre-op area even has a separate room where kids waiting for surgery can go in and pick out a new toy, to keep, absolutely free! And parents are given a $15.00 food voucher for the cafeteria as well. We met and talked with the anesthesiologist and the casting team and were informed about a lot of background knowledge for the procedure. This was supposed to be a busy treatment day at the hospital, but there couldn't have been more than a dozen families in the waiting room, and the cafeteria and parking lot were virtally empty. And it's quiet...everywhere. There's no hustle and bustle that you normally see in other hospitals.

Aidan came out of surgery and went into post-op at about 11:30, and we got to see him, and hold him as soon as he started waking up. He cried and cried. He didn't stop crying. From post-op right through to cast trimming and then to x-ray, he cried until about 1:30, but as soon as we told him he was finished, he wanted to hi-5 all the nursing staff! lol

Aidan didn't sleep well that night, and he woke up at about 2am. But we were expecting that. The good thing is that he slept all the way home! He's finally asleep now, and I think it's time for me to wrap-up a whirlwind 3 day trip! I'm tired, but I'm really glad that we travelled to Erie Shriners Hospital. It was worth it for the 10 degree correction!

A note of thanx to Dr. C, the casting team, all the great staff at Erie Shriners, and all the parents on this forum who have helped us to prepare for this journey.

And so we move to another chapter in our lives...

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> > > >> >> Hello to all the CAST members.

> > > >> >> My name is Curtis Okazaki, and my 20 month old son, Aidan, has IS. I

> > > >> >> have been reading posts in this Forum for about one week now, and I

> > > >> >> would like to thank all of the parents in this group who have posted

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> > > >> >> shared their experiences. Your comments and tips have been very

> > > >> >> helpful for my wife, , and myself in understanding IS and its

> > > >> >> treatment. I have had the pleasure of emailing, and talking with Mr.

> > > >> >> Graham Hill, who has provided me with a wealth of information for

> > > >> >> treatment options, including his experience with Shriners Hospital in

> > > >> >> Erie, PA. Mr. Hill is a pillar of support, and I'd like to publicly

> > > >> >> thank him for his assistance with our situation.

> > > >> >> We live just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Pickering), and we

> > > >> are

> > > >> >> in the early diagnostic stage of treatment, with X-rays and

> > > >> Pediatrician

> > > >> >> appointments. As our Canadian medical system differs somewhat from

> > > >> the

> > > >> >> American version, I would appreciate any helpful tips from those of

> > > >> you

> > > >> >> who have had experiences with IS treatment in Toronto or in the

> > > >> >> Shriner's Hospital in Erie, PA.

> > > >> >> Again, thank you to all of you for allowing my family to learn from

> > > >> >> yours, and we wish all of you continued success in your IS treatment.

> > > >> >> Best Regards

> > > >> >> Curtis Okazaki

> > > >> >> (Aidan, 20 months, still diagnostic)

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