Kori - Response to your questions

[Guest guest]

Kori,

Hello...Thanks for visiting our site. I haven't updated for a while

because we moved and don't have the pc or scanner hooked up yet, but

as soon as we are settled I'll update. Dr. Jay at one point had

even had Collin in short leg casts, I can't remember if I have those

photos on the website or not. Before Collin's surgery he was in no

casts by Dr. Jay's order for a few weeks. (I wish I understood more

then).... I don't have the actual name of the surgrical procedure he

did here (I'm at work) but he legthned his heel cord by cutting a

calf muscle and spliting it in two to use it. Collin's scar is a

few inches. When we went for our second opinion to Shriners in

Philadelphia who also does their own variation not the Ponsieti

method the Dr. there told us he could of done the same thing with

out the huge scar, he couldn't believe the size. However I left

Shriner when I realized they were just as wrong (to us) about

treating clubfoot as Dr. Jay at Dupont. At one point the Dr. at

Shriners told us to set his left (non-clubfoot) to 0 degrees, right

there I knew to run...we listened for like a day then switched it

back on our own and thankfully found Dr. Herzenberg...now we are

finally in safe hands (such a sigh of relief). Since Collin wasn't

treated properly until we saw Dr. Herzenberg he may have more of a

rough road and may not be able to adapt to the ponseiti method. Dr.

Herzenberg has put him in casts which has helped a great deal. Also

he mentioned using an external fixator, it involves 2 surgeries in

about 8 weeks...1 to put it in and 1 to remove it. But after

researching it I want to hold off as long as possible and hope for

other alternatives. He wears a reverse last boot on his clubfoot

because his toes tend to curl over, it holds then out. He wears a

straight last boot on the other foot, I think because it is somewhat

flat, and I think so he will not be at 2 different heights.

Shriners had him in a straight last boot on the clubfoot and told me

to just use any shoe on his left non-clubfoot and I could never find

anything with the same depth or sole so he was always off balanced I

pleaded for help assuming they had to know what to suggest but they

didn't. Collin use to think I was nuts in the morning, he was

always telling me that his shoes didn't match, etc.... I know we

may have a rought road ahead for Collin that why I keep the website

so other parents will have info. and know where to go for support

and hopefully will trust their instincts and get 2nd and even 3rd

opinions...we can't go back but we can at least try to help others.

I thought when we went to Shriners after Dupont it would be great,

but we have to keep in mind, its all about the doctors beliefs, and

Philadelphia Shriners just do their own thing just like Dupont in

Deleware.

Michele

Collin's story at http://www.geocities.com/chele323232