.................Ultra sound therapy

Ok so yes I am that mom that follows the news and then asks the Dr about what was on it. Well it just happened to be the week before Zachs last appointment I caught part of a story on the news about ultrasound therapy and how it helps the bones heal faster, so you know me I go in the Dr office and ask about this. Well the dr said yes its helping people, but it may not be a good thing for Zach. I was like what? Why? This isn't fair! Well after explaining to me that what it does is kinda fuses the bone together and stimulates bone healing and new bone growth if a bone graft was done. So with that in mind thats a great thing because thats what we want right? Well yes and no because Zach is only 7 and hasn't hit his growth spurt yet for his teen years they are worried about it affecting his growth plate. But on the other hand his Dr said he already has a leg that is shorter than the other by more than 1 1/2 inches (almost 2 now) so that shows his leg isn't really growing with the other leg, so trying ultrasound therapy would be worth a shot. We can't really stunt the growth plate anymore than it already is so we are going to give it a shot. I am hoping and praying this might help him some and maybe make the bone stronger since he already had the bone graft done almost 2 years ago.

So with all that said today his ultrasound machine thing-a-ma-gig will be delivered. I was shocked when I heard the cost of the darn thing. Sit down (who am I kidding you probably are since your reading this on the computer) $5,000.00. I am in the wrong market I need to invent 1 of these darn things. Thank god for insurance (and I guess my insurance isn't all to bad now that we switched) because they participate with BCBS so they can only charge $3,000.00 and our policy covers 50% so that brings it to $1,500.00 for us to come up with. I was like oh I don't know if we can swing it then especially seeing its more experimental at this point for him. If it was a definite it would help him and he absolutely needs it then I wouldn't hesitate on struggling even more to pay for it. But god was looking over me at this moment of time. The lady on the other end asked if monthly payments would help and I was like not really we have a ton of medical bills right now and I can't swing anymore, so she said they do have a program she can see if he would qualify for and if so it would pick up the cost for us. She was really helpful and guess what??????? We qualified (with her help)!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so thankful to her I was literally in tears on the phone. I can't believe someone out there was willing to help us out for once instead of making us try to jump all the hoops to get through. So thank you to her and God for looking over us today. I can't wait to see this and if it really works for my little guy.

I will post pics later as to what it looks like and how it actually works once the guy delivers it and applies it.

...................Another Cast

So today I take Zach back to the ortho for a check up on his leg and hoping he gets the cast off for good, but to only be hit hard again with bad news. Zachs leg is not healing this time around so back on with a cast. Another 4 weeks and this one is even longer. This goes literally from his hip to his toes and strict non-weight bearing. Thats going to be the tough part, but we are going to really work on it.

I got to really sit and chat with the dr about this problem and I suggested to her ultrasound therapy. She told me the pros and cons about it but said it might be worth a shot with Zach. So we are waiting to hear from the ins. company if they will cover it. I am at the point where I will try anything for my son to be able to run around again and be "normal". This time he picked out a bright orange cast so he can cheer for SU. He is to funny and takes it all in without really phasing him much. The other option we talked about was bisfonsonate therapy (I know that is spelled wrong sorry). So we are waiting for our referral appointment to a nephrologist to discuss this option and to see if Zach is even a candidate for this therapy. I really need to read up on this the next couple of days so I know what i am going into when we go to the appointment.

Other than that, Marissa is healing well. She is putting weight on her leg (even though she isn't suppose to yet) and getting very impatient with the crutches. She goes back in 2 weeks for her appointment and hopefully she can start to bear weight and get moving again. My poor kiddos they are just a train wreck. But with all the love they have and get we know they are just fine.

................Wordless Wednesday

...............Getting better

Last week was a busy week here again with Dr. appointments for the kids. Zach went on Wednesday had xrays and 1 fracture is healing while the other has started but not enough to keep him out of a cast. So back into a leg cast Mr. Zachary went. He wasn't a happy camper, but he doesn't listen and stay down to rest it. I know its hard especially when he is a 7 yr old boy, but boy I sure would like to be without a cast on him for a little while. I sound like a broken record telling him to go lay down or sit in the living room and watch tv and rest your leg. I will say I have threatened him a couple times and it doesn't bother him 1 bit. That child is going to be the death of me I swear.

Marissa went on Friday and they were pleased with her progress. Very happy with her movement & flexing she can do with it. Michelle told her she has to use the crutches and immobolizer still for another 4 weeks. That didn't go over well because its homecoming weekend and she didn't want to be strapped down. Well it was a rainy, cold, and windy day so the foot ball game was out already and I told her she could go to the dance regardless. We let her have her brace off for homecoming pictures but as soon as they were over it went back on. I think she has been cheating and trying to walk without crutches and her brace because she has had a lot of pain the last couple of days and she was warned too, she needs to stay off it or she will be having another surgery. What is it with my hard headed kiddos and not listening to the Dr?

............No luck what so ever

We went to the doctors today for Marissa with a check up on her knee. She will need surgery and its scheduled for 9/30. They sure aren't wasting any time. She has a chip on the knee bone and it needs to be removed or pinned back in place. Dr isn't sure if he can replace it because there is already fluid behind it and that means its already killing the bone in that area. If he can't pin it, then she might have to have another surgery to fill that area in because its on a weight bearing part of the knee and she will need something there. The first surgery isn't to bad they go in with the scope and 2 little needle holes but if she needs a second then we are looking at a longer surgery and recovery time. He said of atleast 4 months up to a year. So needless to say we have a very unahppy little/big girl on our hands. Dance is at a stand still for her right now. Please say some prayers that everything works out for her.

................Wordless Wednesday

..................Family Update

I know its suppose to be wordless Wednesday, but I have been slacking at updating and have the time now to do so. Zach is in a cast again. He was in a bouncy house and a older kid (around 15 what where they thinking with little kids in there too?) was doing back flips and landed on his leg and he has a fracture of the femur. He is casted until the 22nd of Sept when he goes back for a check up.

Marissa is going to PT for her knee because she has a chip on the knee cap. If PT doesn't work we might be looking at surgery for her. So all this makes time very slim and crazy around here so please forgive me for not updating often. Marissa is off to the Justin Beiber concert tonite at the NYS Fair and she can't wait. Its like almost 1 of the hottest days of the summer to go also. So glad Monday is looking like around 73 for me to go. LOL

If anything changes I will be sure to update you all here.