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

[Guest guest]

Update...March 3, 2012.

Well, 2 weeks went by and we didn't hear from the Orthopaedic Clinic @ Toronto's

Sick Children's Hospital, so we called Aidan's doc. and they got back to us on

Feb. 28th, stating that we would be seen...get this...sometime in late May or

early June..(sigh). That's 4 months from initial xrays....(insert fav. expletive

here).

Here's what we heard from an Ortho. surgeon @ Sick Kids;

" Scoliosis usually does not progress over days or even weeks. It takes months.

As long as the neurologic exam is normal, May should be okay. Sick Kids likely

reviewed the consult and thought that it was okay. "

I've read so many posts in this forum about how parents can visually see a

worsening of the curve over 3 or 4 months...I can't believe a surgeon @ Sick

Kid's would have this view of " waiting is okay " .

So...we've got the ball rolling on our application to the Erie,PA Shriner's

Hospital, and we've also contacted our local Shriner's Temple for assistance.

We know of a Dr. C. who casts @ Erie. Does anyone have experience with casting

from a different Doctor @ Erie?

We also had a friend tell us that if you submit a medical note that you're

seeking treatment in the U.S. along with your Canadian passport application, you

can get your passport in a few days instead of weeks. Is that true?

And a final question to the forum. In Aidan's first X-rays, we never got an RVAD

calculated. We got the COBB, but I'm afraid it might be way off because I was

holding Aidan down, supine, on the table when they shot the pics (I've read that

he should have been standing up). My question is, is an RVAD really necessary to

cast? Do the Docs really use it, or do they (can they) cast without the RVAD? My

thinking is, if you can see a rib hump, then you have to cast regardless...Your

thoughts are appreciated.

Regards,

Curtis

> >>

> >> 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 and

> >> 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)

> >>

> >

> >

> >

>