If you have ever hesitated
to get a second opinion?
If you have ever felt
funny about questioning your doctor's opinion?
If you have ever felt like
you were betraying your doctor if you ask for a second opinion?
DON'T
Don't hesitate
Don't question
Don't feel guilty
ASK
Remember this post, Relapse?
We truly believed that
Lizzie's foot was relapsing.
Lizzie's doctor thought
her foot was relapsing.
We were preparing for
surgery and casts
MORE CASTS
We were preparing for a
wheelchair
We were preparing for NO
soccer!
And then...
We got a second opinion
from a Ponseti approved
doctor (go here for more info on the Ponseti casting method for
clubfeet)
This doctor wasn't close
He was 3 hours away
and I don't like to drive
in unfamiliar places
I guess you could call me
directionally challenged
and I get REALLY tired
Funny how operating on
less than 5 hours of sleep at night will do that to ya!
Go figure!
So, Lizzie and I loaded up
REALLY early Monday morning
armed with coffee and
snacks and coffee (heh) and directions
VERY detailed directions - sigh...
and off we went.
It was an adventure.
My girl always loves an
adventure.
I love that about her!
It was the two of us
against my lack of navigational skill the world
and we made it
and it was SO worth it!
This doctor...
This Ponseti approved
doctor
doesn't think she is
relapsing
This doctor thinks that
she has a “drop foot” which means that her tendons are not strong
enough to pull her foot up and over when she walks, causing Lizzie to
drag that foot...
which means that if we had
done the surgery, it probably would not have worked and Lizzie would
have gone through an operation and weeks of casting and
wheelchairs...
FOR NOTHING
This doctor did say that
she may need surgery in the future...
that she still may be
relapsing but that he would like to try something else first.
He wants to put Lizzie in
AFO's – braces in her shoes
“special shoes”
Which means...
NO casts
NO surgery
NO wheelchair
(at least for now)
and
SOCCER!!!!!
Which makes Hubby Lizzie very happy!
Hehe!
Which makes this Momma
very happy
Thank you to those who
prayed for our Lizzie
The Lord used those
prayers to direct us (literally – hehe) to the right place
to the right doctor
to our second opinion.
To read more Sunday
Snapshots, go here
Oh, Annie!! I am so very grateful that this doctor has other options to try to first address this possible relapse!!
ReplyDeleteDear Lord, Thank you for this doctor and for guiding Annie there! I pray Lord, that you would use these brace shoes to strengthen Lizzie's foot! In Jesus' name, amen
oh i'm so happy about the second opnion! Yay for no casts, surgeries, or wheel chairs! Woohoo for soccer! Praying that AFO's will help Miss Lizzie's foot! <33
ReplyDeleteGod Bless!
-Kirstie Bikakis
Annie - what amazing, amazing news! Tears of joy right now - I'm so happy for Lizzie, for you, and for your whole family! And you are absolutely right - never doubt getting second, third, or even fourth opinions! I am forever grateful to my parents for the dozens upon dozens of trips they made from our home in northeastern New Jersey down to Baltimore so I could have my neurosurgical and orthopedic care at Johns Hopkins because they didn't feel that the doctors in our area were knowledgeable enough. When I was five, my maternal grandparents chose to pack up, pull me out of kindergarten, and move out to Chicago for five months with me when they read about an experimental bladder therapy that they felt would give me the best possible chance at continence and ended up changing my life more than I could ever describe. You are one awesome momma - I'm so happy you made that trip!
ReplyDeleteamazing Annie......
ReplyDeleteOH YAY!! Thank You Jesus!!
ReplyDeleteWhat great news!
I second the second opinions!
Great news Annie!!! Praise the Lord!!!
ReplyDeleteHoping you see marked improvement with the braces.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful news, Annie!
ReplyDeleteHOORAY! I'm so happy for her and you! Bring on soccer season!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much everyone! Please continue to pray that she will accept these "special" shoes and that we will be able to keep them on her feet this summer!! She loves to be barefoot:) Don't we all! Thanks again so much. Honestly knowing that you all were praying for her helped me so much!!
ReplyDeletewoohoo :) That is awesome :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow! That's such great news for all! Yipeeeeeee!
ReplyDeleteGreat News Annie!! So glad for Lizzie! Will continue to pray for her.
ReplyDeleteCherie
Yeah!! What great news for you all, especially Lizzie! I also followed my "gut feeling" and avoided a major surgery by questioning our doctor and seeking a second opinion. Never feel guilty about following your gut when it comes to your kids :-)
ReplyDeleteOh Annie, this is wonderful news! Praise the Lord! So glad you got that 2nd opinion! Yay!!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Tammy
Thank you Annie for this post! We are newly home and recently found out our daughter has hearing loss and a couple of 'markers' so they are on the 'syndrome' hunt. Anyway, I think a reminder that second opinions are what we all need was a good lesson for me today. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious family you have. I am so happy for Lizzie and you--praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. BTW--I think you will receive this comment which means I got my commenting issue repaired. I figured out it was a web browser issue--Firefox was the problem.
ReplyDelete