New casts

My new casts - red this time!

It’s been a bit disappointing because I thought I was having my casts off yesterday.  I did have them taken off, which involved a really scary round drill thing, and when they were off my legs felt a bit weird.  BUT then we went to see Mr F and he said I needed to have casts put back on for another 2 weeks!

At least they are smaller – they just go below my knee so they look like socks.  I got red ones this time.  Apparently when I have the casts off in two weeks I’ll have to wear knee braces – yuck!

Anyway, it’s a bit easier to walk and the really exciting news is that I’m going to my friends house to play tomorrow.  This will be the first time I’ve been round to a friend’s house since I had my operation nearly 6 months ago.  I’m really excited!

What my plastercasts look like

I’ve finally got round to putting a photo of my pink legs up!  I got loads of signatures from my friends on the last day of school!

I got some red shoes yesterday to wear over them so they won’t wear out and they are really horrible.  They have got elephants on them!

Plastercasts

I had my frames off on Thursday and now I have plastercasts on from my toes to my hips, with a small gap in between for my knees.  I chose pink and they are very bright.  Unfortunately I can’t get my legs wet at all now, so I can’t go swimming.  I’ve got to have them on for six weeks, so I hope they will come off just before I go back to school.  (School’s out for the summer holiodays now).

Having the frames off!

Had x-rays again yesterday and the consultant said he would book me in to have the frames off!!!  I will have to have =lastercasts on above and below my knees but hopefully I should be able to walk.  I am also going to have crutches now instead of a walking frame.

Being active!

Me on the swing!

Yesterday discovered I could go on the swing!  It felt great to be able to be on the swing and I was really free.  I could pump the swing by myself (I’m sure it was good exercise for my legs!)

Soon I have my Grade 1 cornet exam.  Aaahh!

Turning 9

On Sunday is was my birthday and I was 9!  I had a great day and lots of presents.  We went to Frankie and Bennies for tea with 6 of my friends.  The wheelchair fitted at the table so it was just like I was the same as everybody else.  It was really embarrassing when they turned the lights down and the music up loud and everyone sang happy birthday to me 🙂

I can walk a few steps without my walking frame now!

New shoes

My new shoes

Last week when I went to the hospital to have my legs x-rayed (again!) the surgeon told me I was doing really well at walking but that I needed to move my ankles.  So I had my bolt-on shoes removed and now I have to walk on my own feet, taking all the weight through my bones.  This should make my bones heal even faster as the more weight they take, the faster they heal.  It should make it easier for me to walk when my frames and casts are off, too, because my ankles won’t be so stiff.

I was a bit frightened of walking without the bolt-on shoes at first, as my ankles were quite sore.  But now, after 5 days, I am walking as much as I was with the bolt-on shoes (basically everywhere).  I like my new shoes better than the ugly bolt-on ones, and they are much easier to get on and off.  This means it isn’t such a hassle having a shower.

Today at school I sat at a normal table in the classroom for the first time.  It was much nicer than being stuck in my wheelchair.  I had felt really high up in the wheelchair compared to my friends, but when I sat at the table with them I felt really low down! 

Walking on my own

I’ve been practising loads, and here are some of the things I can do now:

1. Walk on my own (without help from any adults)
2. Get in and out of my wheelchair by myself (but I need someone to fold the leg supports out of the way and put my step down)
3. Lift my leg up so that it’s pointing to the ceiling when I’m lying in bed
4. Turn onto my tummy from lying on my back
5. Go down the stairs by myself

So as you can see things are progressing really well.  This morning I freaked my mum and my brother out by getting out of bed myself and when they came in I was the other side of the room!

My legs don’t hurt any more and that is why I can do so much.

Straight legs!

On Wednesday I went to the hospital to see my consultant.  When he looked at my x-rays (which I have to have done every time I go) he said that the bones were lined up straight now and that my frames don’t need turning any more.   So I don’t need to go back to hospital for 5 weeks now!  Also it means that I could have the turning bits taken off my frames which were sticking out in between my frames and making it very hard to walk.

Now I’ve just got to wait for my bones to grow back.  To help that happen I’ll have to do lots of walking. 😦

Unfortunately walking is harder at the moment even though the turning has stopped because it felt like one of my bones suddenly snapped.  The nurse said it could have been that when my bone was cut in the operation, a thin strand may have stayed connected and this suddenly snapped.  So my right leg is very painful when I stand on it now.  I hope this will get better soon so that I can get better at walking and have my frames off sooner.  (The doctors have said that the more I walk, the quicker my bones will heal.)

Back at school full-time

I’ve been back at school now for a week (without my mum).  It’s fine at school.  I can do most things except PE but I need help with some things.  I have to stay in my wheelchair all day at the moment.  I have two adult helpers who come in to help me at different times during the day.

I had my cornet lesson today.  I am working for my Grade 1 exam.

The thing I like most about being back at school again is being with my friends.

I still have to go to the hospital every Wednesday at the moment so I am having Wednesdays off school.