Hadley's 4th Cast

Were back from Chicago as of yesterday and Hadley got her 4th cast put on. I can't believe this is her 4th cast already. The procedure went well as Hadley is getting used to this all. Like last time, the hardest part is when they carry her away to be put to sleep and she looks back with her big teared up puppy eyes. We got through it though. After her "surgery" she took about an hour to recover in the recovery room. It felt like forever! One of the nurses finally carried her back, which I thought was so nice. Usually she comes back in her hospital crib. She was upset of course, but we got her a few Popsicles, some crackers, and some juice which helped! The nurse then team worked with us to get her taped up and soon after that we were on our way. Hadley was doing awesome at that time so we went down to the cafeteria and got her some food! She was starving. Then we left and she was fast asleep!

As Hadley was in the recovery room, the Doctor came out with her updates. He informed us that her back before casted was at 23 degrees! This is AMAZING! We were so happy to hear that. We are making amazing progress. Or actually I say, GOD is making amazing progress! In her new cast, she is 12 degrees, which I wasn't thrilled with since in her last cast, she was down to 0-5 degrees, but with the correction she was at, I couldn't complain! :)

The doctor said that typically once the child is under 20 degrees, they would brace them. But since Hadley started with a severe curve, he will cast her a couple more times in high hopes that her spine will hold. This could possibly mean only 3 or 4 more casts, then a brace. That would be amazing! He said that if her spine did not hold with the brace, we would then look at growing rods after the age of 3 1/2 since typically the casting process does not work after that age. But he also said that normally after casting when the spine is under 20 degrees, the spine tends to stay and then there would be no need for growing rods. So, we pray that Hadley's spine is one of those cases! After Casting and a brace, they will continue to watch Hadley's back very closely to assure that it does not continue to curve again. He said they pay extra close attention around adolescence since that is another time that the curve tends to take off again and then they may just have to brace her again. But hopefully not! Were praying that we have maybe 3 or 4 more casts, a brace, and then this would be out of Hadley's life. All in God's will though! He only knows her future and what he has planned for her.

So, all this to say, were VERY happy with Hadley's correction!!!!!
Adjusting to her new cast has been a little hard, but nothing out of the ordinary. It is always so hard to see Hadley struggle so much not understanding why she can't do the things she could do two days ago without her cast. She tends to be sassier and throw little temper tantrums with the cast on since she gets so frustrated, but I really can't blame her. She is such a different child with the cast and requires a little more patience. But that is ok. She is our special little baby!

Thank you for your prayers! Her follow up apt is December 3rd in Chicago. I was wrong about the Hospital being closed. Only the operation rooms are closed. So, Hadley will not be casted again till the end of January. Lets hope we have as few leaks as possible since that it a long time in a cast! :)