Savanna Did Wonderful!
August 12, 2004 by · Leave a Comment
Savanna did wonderful! I have to say a huge thank you to you all for praying for us today. The only way the appointment could have been better is if they were giving away money for being the 100th patient of the day 
When we first got in the room and they had us lay her on a regular table to get her undressed, she said, “Poor Mama”. The appointment was quick and painless for all involved. I am attaching a few pics of the table and her in her body cast. The only time she fussed was when they had to cut the cast off. They had to use one of those reciprocating saws that they use to cut casts off and we had to cover her face with a paper towel to keep the plaster from flying in her face. As soon as she heard the saw turn off, she stopped whining and said, “all done”. She was such a trooper!!! I was so proud that I think if she had asked for a pony, I would have gone out and bought her one today. Such a huge burden lifted off my shoulders now that the appointment is done. Her brace should be done in a few weeks. I’ll make sure and update you all on how she does with the brace. In the picture I am sending, you can see how curved her little body has already gotten and you’ll probably understand why I have been so adamant about getting her a brace made.
We are just so thankful that God answered all those prayers today and it is over. Now we can look forward to the fundraiser, getting her off the vent and learning to drive her power chair. Thank you all again. Your prayers meant so much to us.
Love,
Mindy
Savanna’s Appointments
August 12, 2004 by · Leave a Comment
Hi everyone:
I just wanted to update you on Savanna’s appointments. She saw her pulmonologist on Tuesday and the chest x-ray shows the right lung has greatly improved. Yea!!! We are finally getting somewhere with this. She again told me it just takes a loooonnng time for a neuromuscular kid to get over pneumonia with the extent that Savanna had it. She wants us to continue “pushing” her to get off her vent. I told her I felt a large part of it was due more to anxiety on her part and air quality. She agreed and thought by September we might be making more headway with her weaning schedule.
She also saw the orthotist last week to have new DAFO’s (foot braces) and her back brace made. He did take the mold for her feet, but we are going back today for the mold of her trunk for the back brace. He was not aware that she is a trach/vent kid and said he would need about 3 people to help make the mold of her trunk. That is what my prayer request is regarding. We first had to go thru the whole scenario of him not thinking it would help much, but I feel like we should at least give it a try. These doctors and therapists seem to make a blanket decision without taking into consideration that my Savanna is tougher than they think and tolerates things that most other kids would throw a fit over. I actually think it might bring her some relief to have her spine stretched and somewhat straightened out. He agreed to make a back brace that will basically just support her on her sides. It will have a large cutout in her stomach area to allow access to her feeding button and to allow her to breathe better, since she is a “belly breather”. She won’t be able to wear the brace in a sitting position because the hard plastic that will be on the outside of the brace will be very thin and would cut into her legs if in an upright position.
He then showed me the table that is used to make the mold and why he will need 3 people to help. If you can imagine, a back brace will support her entire trunk area, from under her arms to down to her waistline area. That whole part of the table is open, meaning there is just a band there. For someone like Savanna who cannot support herself, that could be very frightening, as floppy as she is. It will take Tim, my mom and myself to help support her and keep her calm while the other 2-3 people “wrap” her trunk. Once it is wrapped and has set up, they will have to cut it off like a cast is cut off.
It’s hard to believe that any mother would knowingly put her child thru this. It will be hard for me, but I know the end result and feel in my heart this will help her. I have something to give her right before the appointment that will help sedate her. He said the appointment normally takes 30 minutes, if they get it right the first time. It could take up to 2 hours. So, my prayer requests are the following:
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That Savanna’s appointment goes smoothly, quickly and the mold is done right the first time.
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Pray for a spirit of peace, calmness and trust for Savanna and for us as well.
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Pray that the procedure will not be painful nor make her feel claustrophobic.
Her appointment is at 2:00 today. I know I should have sent an email a day or so ago, but never got around to it. I realize a lot of you may not even read this in time, but thought whoever could and would pray for her today, it would certainly hope. I will let you all know how she does.
Thanks,
Mindy