I would like to take the time while I can, to give our praying friends an update on how Kaitlyns scoliosis journey is going thus far.
It has been about a yr since I've last updated, I am sorry I've not kept her blog more up to date.
Life just constantly gets in the way.
This past June, after 10 weeks in her 12th cast. We took off her cast, which was to be her very last.
We took her to Great Wolf Lodge water park to celebrate. It was right around her 5th birthday, perfect timing :)
Her orthopedic Dr in Chicago informed us that Kaitlyn would be moving on to a brace.
She was once again hitting a wall in terms of correction from her casts. A lot plays into why she hasn't been getting more correction from her casts.
I can tell you that news of her not casting anymore sent me into a whirlwind of emotions.
I was thrilled for many reasons to be finished with this path in her journey. Also, very nervous and afraid of coming to an end with this path.
But, dealing with scoliosis is naturally a very turbulent ride of ups and downs in every way.
What do you do? All I could do is pray to the Lord for peace and acceptance for me and my sweet little girl. He always gives to me with every new path I am faced with. Jeremiah 33.3!
David and I just want to thank the Lord from the bottoms of our heart. For getting Kaitlyn and our family through these last four years of casting.
The path has been so hectic and topsy turvy for us.
There were so many times we barley got to Chicago to make sure she had her casts. There were so many times we wanted to give up after so many casts without change. So many times we questioned ourselves. So many times we've cried and wished better for Kaitlyn. But there has also been joy in casting. The blessings of a wonderful Dr and nurses who genuinely care for Kaitlyn. The blessing of our church family and the financial gifts they've always given to help us get to Chicago.
The blessing of God's love and protection on every trip we've made to Chicago. The blessing of the prayers of many of God's children, even from those of people we've never met. The blessing of meeting other families going through the same thing and being able to encourage people. It's really endless, the blessings God's give us through these 4 years.
There will be many memories of casting, both good and bad. I will embrace and hold onto them all.
I will tell Kaitlyn years from now when she's grown, how strong she was and how proud I was of her.
How well she did with every cast and how Jesus brought her through. How she learned to crawl and walk in her casts. How she never fought her nurses and how so very proud I am of her.
We went to Chicago in first part of July for her to be molded for a brace. It was a quick two day trip and home again to wait for the brace to be made and then go back again to pick it up. We got home and waited, only to be called and told that our insurance would not cover her brace in Chicago. I was really distraught that we weren't going to be getting our brace through shriners. I feel that would have been best for Kaitlyn. But, we could not afford the high cost of the brace without insurance.
I could only trust the Lord and know that He knows the plan and would direct my steps.
It was quite a headache trying to figure all that out with insurance. I was really getting discouraged while we waited to get things straightened out.
We finally made arrangements for Kaitlyns brace to be made here at home locally. Through prayer and phone calls we found a good place right by our home. She went and got re molded here in Lincoln Park and we waited some more to pick up this brace. So after nearly a month and a half we got her into her brace. I was so nervous for all that out of cast time she had and if she would accept her brace. But, once again she proved me wrong and has adjusted to her brace quite well.
She's been wearing it for about 2 1/2 months now.
She wears her brace for 23 hrs a day and is permitted to have a 1 hr break for bathing or swimming. I am pretty stern about her wearing for the full 23 hrs. But she loves her brace breaks!
Her brace is holding up well and I haven't had any problems so far with it. We both like the fact that you can hardly see it under her clothes. It makes dressing so much simpler. It has pretty purple butterfly's on it :)
Kaitlyn is such a trooper and so acceptable of change. She really is so easy going and very trusting that her parents are taking the best care we can of her. She's my hero in every way.
Every 4 months she will be seeing her orthopedic Dr in Chicago for brace check ups. Which will include xrays. To see how her curve is holding in her braces. He has not talked about surgery for her near future. But, we certainly cannot rule it out.
It is our constant and deepest prayer that she will hold in her brace for as long as she grows. So we can avoid growing rods and evasive back surgery.
Friends, please continue praying for Kaitlyn.
Don't stop, she still needs them very much!
I think some people may think she's doing better now and not casting anymore so there's not a great a need for prayer. There is!
Please pray for us that her brace does its job. That if the Lord so chooses, that she would also see correction in her brace. With God all things are possible! Amen?! She still needs your prayers.
We go on Wednesday to Chicago for her first brace check up. My Mommy heart is nervous and anxious for her xray results. I covet your prayers over her xrays. I will update as to how it went.
Thank you dear praying friends! We love you all.