medical updates…and a fun gift

simon had his orthopedist visit this monday.  the orthopedist suggested no surgery at this time, which was music to sy’s mama’s ears.  simon’s x-ray explained: see how on the left (right side of image) the head of simon’s femur (long bone) articulates with his hip in a ball-and-socket joint?  now look on his right side – nothing in the socket!  that’s right, simon has no hip joint to speak of.  see that little nubbin on the right that you’d think would correspond to the top of sy’s femur on the left?  well, guess what – that little itty bitty thing is his entire right femur!  (in this case, the name “long bone” is obviously a misnomer.)  so, what appears on the right as a long bone is actually sy’s tibia, or shin bone, i.e., one of two bones supposedly in his lower leg.  his fibula, the other lower leg bone, is non-existent.  and that is the anatomy of simon’s right leg revealed!

poor simon, with only a day’s breather, today he visited the prosthetist to have an impression made for his first prosthesis.  as the photo suggests, he was not a huge fan of the process, but the appointment lasted less than an hour and earned him two (mini) packets of M&Ms.  better yet (if not to simon, then certainly to his parents), in just a couple weeks’ time, simon will have his leg.

casting simon’s leg was a bit like doing papier-mache.  when the plaster hardened, it was cut off and will be used to make sy’s socket.  in a week or so, we’ll have a clear plastic prototype of the leg, which sy will be re-fitted into.  the advantage of the particular plastic used is that it is heat moldable so that revisions can be made as necessary.  a week later, the finished leg will be available for simon to take home and learn to walk on in what i’m sure will be a real acclimation process.

 

so that y’all don’t get the impression this kid is only ever subjected to terrible things like blood draws, x-rays and castings, i include here a photo of sy and big brother toby enjoying their brand new personalized tote bags, compliments of their great aunt lesley.  don’t you just want to pick up the handles and carry them both away?