The doctor's office called...

March 3, 2003

After placing a call on Friday to Owen's doctor, I got a call back

this morning. His secretary wanted to let me know that he was 'in

surgery' all day today so he wouldn't be able to get back to me

today...hopefully tomorrow. Anyway, I told her that I wanted to speak

with him specifically about the Ponseti method and to find out what

he knew of it and what his thoughts on it are. Apparently, according

to her, he knows of it (she's heard the term before) and there is

literature available at their office. Anyway, I told her that I still

wanted to speak to him prior to our appointment on Wednesday and that

I wanted to postpone the tenotomy (scheduled for Wednesday) until

then.

A few minutes later, my phone rang again. This time it was a nurse

from the office. She told me that Dr. Cook uses the Ponseti method.

Huh?! I asked if he's been 'trained' in the method and she assured

me that yes, he has. So, I asked where he received his

training...she wasn't able to answer that. I asked what percentage

of his patients required surgery. Her answer was that 95% of

patients with clubfoot require surgery.(????) I told her that I

wanted to postpone the tenotomy until I had spoken to him. She

started saying, so, you don't want to do the Ponseti method....I

stopped her and told her that I DO want the Ponseti method and that

was why I had called to speak to Dr. Cook. So, she then proceeded to

explain the tenotomy procedure which she was calling the Ponseti

Method. I then told her that it was apparent that MY understanding

of Ponseti and hers were totally different. We then went on to a

discussion about what I thought it was vs. what she was talking

about. I ended it quick - she was obviously winging it and didn't

really know what 'the Ponseti method' was. She did tell me that Dr.

Cook practices the Ponseti method (but of course, if she thinks that

the tenotomy IS the method, well....) which is news to me. I don't

really think that he does, he may know OF it but he definately didn't

use it for Owen. No plaster cast (fiberglass), no full-leg cast

(below the knee), and no 'gentle' manipulations here (Owen has

screamed, as much as a newborn can, at each manipulation).

So, I still wait to hear back from the Doctor!

On a side note, I just discovered yesterday that Dr. Shafique Pirani,

who is the 'qualified' specialist in B.C. is only about a 30-40

minute drive from my sisters house!

March 3, 2003

Good for you! This was the hardest part for me personally, confronting my

origional doctor with very direct and educated questions and finally

demanding answers. It was so against my nature to start out with but boy did

it pay off. :-)

I have heard incredible things about Dr. Pirani, as I remember he is indeed

one of the best and is an advocate for the Ponseti method. It would be

wonderful if you could take Owen to him.

Let us know how things work out.

Holly and

The doctor's office called...

>After placing a call on Friday to Owen's doctor, I got a call back

>this morning. His secretary wanted to let me know that he was 'in

>surgery' all day today so he wouldn't be able to get back to me

>today...hopefully tomorrow. Anyway, I told her that I wanted to speak

>with him specifically about the Ponseti method and to find out what

>he knew of it and what his thoughts on it are. Apparently, according

>to her, he knows of it (she's heard the term before) and there is

>literature available at their office. Anyway, I told her that I still

>wanted to speak to him prior to our appointment on Wednesday and that

>I wanted to postpone the tenotomy (scheduled for Wednesday) until

>then.

>

>A few minutes later, my phone rang again. This time it was a nurse

>from the office. She told me that Dr. Cook uses the Ponseti method.

>Huh?! I asked if he's been 'trained' in the method and she assured

>me that yes, he has. So, I asked where he received his

>training...she wasn't able to answer that. I asked what percentage

>of his patients required surgery. Her answer was that 95% of

>patients with clubfoot require surgery.(????) I told her that I

>wanted to postpone the tenotomy until I had spoken to him. She

>started saying, so, you don't want to do the Ponseti method....I

>stopped her and told her that I DO want the Ponseti method and that

>was why I had called to speak to Dr. Cook. So, she then proceeded to

>explain the tenotomy procedure which she was calling the Ponseti

>Method. I then told her that it was apparent that MY understanding

>of Ponseti and hers were totally different. We then went on to a

>discussion about what I thought it was vs. what she was talking

>about. I ended it quick - she was obviously winging it and didn't

>really know what 'the Ponseti method' was. She did tell me that Dr.

>Cook practices the Ponseti method (but of course, if she thinks that

>the tenotomy IS the method, well....) which is news to me. I don't

>really think that he does, he may know OF it but he definately didn't

>use it for Owen. No plaster cast (fiberglass), no full-leg cast

>(below the knee), and no 'gentle' manipulations here (Owen has

>screamed, as much as a newborn can, at each manipulation).

>

>So, I still wait to hear back from the Doctor!

>

>On a side note, I just discovered yesterday that Dr. Shafique Pirani,

>who is the 'qualified' specialist in B.C. is only about a 30-40

>minute drive from my sisters house!

>

March 3, 2003

Daiga,

Woo hoo! It was good to hear how you stuck to your guns. I hope you are able

to see the Ponseti specialist near your sister. I am also the mother of four

children and understand how difficult the logistics can be. Good luck!

Bethany