Hello From an Oldie

May 21, 2004

Maize

Hello,

I don't know how many of you remember me. I'm Suzanne, mom to Sam, who was born

with a left clubfoot and is now 4 years old. Sam started treatment with Dr.

Ponseti at 5 months of age after 4 months of bad casting here locally and a

unsuccessful surgery. He wore the FAB until he was 2 1/2.

I was lurking recently and saw all of the messages about the length of time

wearing the FAB. I know it seems like a really long time, but if you want to

avoid surgery at all costs, it's what you've got to do. I say this because I

wish we hadn't discontinued using it at 2. I was SO eager to be done with the

thing, I didn't look at the much bigger picture.

Today, we had our first appointment with Dr. Noonan. He is based in Madison but

comes here to Appleton, WI once a month. He was absolutely wonderful. I had

heard that he didn't have the best bedside manner, but I didn't think that at

all. Sam is obsessed with the Tank Engine and had his train bag with all

of his trains with him. Dr Noonan sat him down and started talking trains to

get Sam to relax so that he could feel his feet. He did such a great job.

Anyway, we found out that Sam will most likely have to have an ATT. He has some

metatarsus adducts and his heal cord is tightening up a bit. We're going to go

back in August to make that decision. We wouldn't want to do something over the

summer anyway. If he's going to be laid up with a cast, we might as well do it

in the cold winter months and let him be more active in the summer. He (Dr.

Noonan) said that we could either do nothing at all or make it a little better.

So, now I need to look at the ramifications of doing nothing vs. the surgery.

If we do have it done, we should do so before starting kindergarten. Right now,

we're looking at preschools to enroll him in and I'm thinking that perhaps

having it done during Christmas break might be the best, so that he doesn't miss

as much.

Gee, I really really wish we hadn't stopped the brace so soon.

As for the rest of the Holton clan, here's a little update. We welcomed a

little brother, , into the family last Oct. was born with perfect

little feet. What a blessing!! Jake is a treat to have around. He adores his

big brother and Sam adores him. It's so much fun to see them play together. We

moved from Manitowoc, WI, back to Appleton, WI last July. Now, we are tickled

pink to be moving into our new home next Friday. If only I could get done with

all this packing...

I have this group set to " no mail " so if anyone would like to contact me, you

may do so via my new email address: sholton@....

Take Care!!

Suzanne

sholton@...

May 22, 2004

Suzanne!

How nice to hear from you!

I'm sorry, though, that you're dealing with some concerns with Sam

right now.. but am glad that you have someone such as Dr. Noonan so

close to you and able to help. I have heard such good things about

him. I'll be very interested to hear about the decision process and

how things go.. and hope everything works out well.

Congratulations on the addition to your family! What a blessing.. I

know you are enjoying this special time..

I'm so glad you posted again, and hope you stop by from time to time!

I've thought about you guys and wondered how you were...

Take care and best of luck,

and Claire, almost 4

> Maize

>

> Hello,

>

> I don't know how many of you remember me. I'm Suzanne, mom to Sam,

who was born with a left clubfoot and is now 4 years old. Sam

started treatment with Dr. Ponseti at 5 months of age after 4 months

of bad casting here locally and a unsuccessful surgery. He wore the

FAB until he was 2 1/2.

>

> I was lurking recently and saw all of the messages about the

length of time wearing the FAB. I know it seems like a really long

time, but if you want to avoid surgery at all costs, it's what you've

got to do. I say this because I wish we hadn't discontinued using it

at 2. I was SO eager to be done with the thing, I didn't look at the

much bigger picture.

>

> Today, we had our first appointment with Dr. Noonan. He is based

in Madison but comes here to Appleton, WI once a month. He was

absolutely wonderful. I had heard that he didn't have the best

bedside manner, but I didn't think that at all. Sam is obsessed with

the Tank Engine and had his train bag with all of his trains

with him. Dr Noonan sat him down and started talking trains to get

Sam to relax so that he could feel his feet. He did such a great

job.

>

> Anyway, we found out that Sam will most likely have to have an

ATT. He has some metatarsus adducts and his heal cord is tightening

up a bit. We're going to go back in August to make that decision.

We wouldn't want to do something over the summer anyway. If he's

going to be laid up with a cast, we might as well do it in the cold

winter months and let him be more active in the summer. He (Dr.

Noonan) said that we could either do nothing at all or make it a

little better. So, now I need to look at the ramifications of doing

nothing vs. the surgery. If we do have it done, we should do so

before starting kindergarten. Right now, we're looking at preschools

to enroll him in and I'm thinking that perhaps having it done during

Christmas break might be the best, so that he doesn't miss as much.

>

> Gee, I really really wish we hadn't stopped the brace so soon.

>

> As for the rest of the Holton clan, here's a little update. We

welcomed a little brother, , into the family last Oct.

was born with perfect little feet. What a blessing!! Jake is a

treat to have around. He adores his big brother and Sam adores him.

It's so much fun to see them play together. We moved from Manitowoc,

WI, back to Appleton, WI last July. Now, we are tickled pink to be

moving into our new home next Friday. If only I could get done with

all this packing...

>

> I have this group set to " no mail " so if anyone would like to

contact me, you may do so via my new email address: sholton@n...

>

> Take Care!!

>

> Suzanne

>

> sholton@n...

>

May 22, 2004