Amelie Loves Cheerios

Amelie April 5, 2011
Click on the photo to see album

Hello all. First an update about the surgery. Amelie did great and is a real trooper. I will do a more detailed post, but they were able to accomplish their goals today and we are really excited to see how it will look in three weeks when they remove her cast. After a 3 hour nap today she was up and about playing and laughing with Nadia. The cast is a bit frustrating for her, but I think she will be ignoring it soon.

Here are some photos and a video that Mike took yesterday to show how well she was using her hands before the surgery.

 

Amelie April 5, 2011

Amelie April 5, 2011

Amelie’s first surgery is tomorrow

We will be heading to Dallas early Wednesday morning for Amelie’s first hand surgery. We are very blessed that the surgery will be at Texas Scottish Rite hospital. Our prayer is that they will be able to complete her left hand in this one surgery. If they cannot, then she will have another surgery in 3 -4 months.

We are also praying for Amelie to not be too stressed out once she wakes up with the cast on. She is very dependent on her left hand and I know it’s going to be hard on her to have it immobilized  for 3 weeks.

Texas Scottish Rite

Please go down one post to see close up photos of Amelie’s hands and how she uses them.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

Click on the photo above to see the entire album. Here she is after being woken up early with fun mohawk hair.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

Yesterday we took Amelie for her first evaluations at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. We have heard over and over how they have some of the best children’s hand surgeons in the world and how wonderful the staff was. We spent three hours there yesterday and it really was wonderful. The absolutely amazing thing is that the entire place operates on donations – they have never charged a family for their services. For us it was a bizarre sort of experience to just sign a few forms and confirm our address. Then we went from room to room and person to person for the evaluations. None of the staff was rushed and they took time to talk to us and answer our questions. At one point we had 4 professionals in the room with us at one time! Since they don’t have to answer to any insurance companies they were able to do the tests on her and to schedule her first surgery.

Amelie in the waiting area.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

First exam room.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

The orthopedic nurse checking Amelie out.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

The occupational therapist so so impressed with what Amelie could do with her hands.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

Then the Orthopedic doctor came in and checked Amelie out and told us that there was nothing to worry about with her toes and that she wouldn’t have any problems with her balance. He also told us to just purchase shoes that were comfortable and not worry about special shoes. Then we moved on to the hand clinic. We saw a doctor and a fellow and then they sent us on to get some x-rays of her hands. Amelie thought that was totally weird and was watching closely at each step. Here is Amelie in the waiting area.

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011

Then they called us back to the exam room and we met with the hand surgeon. He showed us Amelie’s X-rays and then told us they wanted to let the right hand grow some more before deciding what to do. Then he talked to us all about her left hand and that they think she can get a lot of use out of it with surgery. He said they would try to separate the digits in one surgery, but it would depend on the blood vessels in her hand. We are prepared that there might be a second surgery a few months after the first. After the doctor left one of the hand nurses came back in and talked to us about dates and details on preparing for the surgery. She also let us know that Amelie would have to be in a cast for at least 3 weeks and how to care for her.

We asked about physical therapy after the surgery and they said all we have to do is let her play. What a deal! Amelie’s first surgery will be April 6th.

And just for fun, look at the cool ship!

Texas Scottish Rite 3/3/2011