Pictures

The Cast is Off

Yes, finally after 2 months Brandon is cast free. This is good news and bad news. The good news is the foot can begin healing, Brandon can take his endless baths he loves and his clothes options have improved. The bad news - we are back 100% in the wheelchair for the moment. Brandon had a brace made for him and he has worn this for two days (see picture). His is foot is swollen and very dry. Therefore the foot really hurts. He has been complaining about pain. Today (saturday) I have given him a break on the brace as long as he does not attempt to walk on the foot. We also have been putting lotion on the help with the dry skin. I think the next step of trying to get Brandon back walking on the foot will be another slow process. I am hoping in two weeks to see if he can walk some with the walker in hopes to be 100% walking in 6 weeks. We have a recheck in 6 weeks. In the meantime Brandon must use the brace. As expected Brandon doesn't really like the brace but hopefully he will get the hang of it soon. More later


Leah

A busy few weeks

Brandon is recoverying very well since removal of the tight cast pins and the button. I do want to show you the before walking, the walking 1 week after coming home and walking now. Next week Brandon will have his cast removed. He is really ready. However, we have had a few other challenges since our last post. Brandon's dog Blackie died last week. He was a mastif/lab mix and the protector of the house. It is not the same around here without him. We will all miss him. Blackie was 11 yrs old. In addition, Brandon grandmother (my mom) have become very ill and has been in the hospital. This we had to move her to a skilled nursing facility. She had a stroke and will get intensive treatment to regain some of her skills and to help with memory. Brandon has found ways to me independent. He is walking much better. When he does not want to walk he is using his wheelchair to wheel himself around. We are trying to get him up as much as possible before the tight cast is removed next week. He will receive a back and special shoes next week after removal of the cast.
Leah

The First Cast is Removed

Many of you have e-mailed me for the latest update. Brandon, Kristin and I just got back from Dallas. Brandon had his cast removed under anesthesia, had all the pins, wires and the button removed and his foot was molded for a brace. They then placed another "tight cast" on the foot and leg for another month. The good news, Brandon can now bear weight on the foot. The bad news, that is not as easy as he or I thought. He will probably need the next month to build strength in the foot to take the weight. He walked a little today with the walker, but was in the wheelchair again for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow back to school and hopefully walking a little more. The physicians and the hospital also want to look at the other foot which has already started to curve in as well. Hopefully we will not need surgery on his right foot for a while. Brandon is in good spirits and everything today went very well. By the way the new cast is green.
Leah

Back from Scottish Rite and Out of School

Brandon has a pretty easy week this week. He went to school on Monday and had a fairly easy day. Tuesday he went to all his classes at school. Wednesday afternoon we left to head back to Scottish Rite. We had an appointment for a cast check. The cast was starting to unravel on the base so it was good we were going. We spent the night in Dallas. Kristin came with us. The next morning (thursday) I worked in the hotel room until lunch and we headed over to the hospital. We ate the stangest mexican hamburger place close to the hopsital. It was so bad we headed over to Whole foods close to the hospital for a few snacks to eat after the appointment and the drive home. Brandon's cast looks good. They put another layer on the cast and we are all hoping it lasts 2 more weeks. We will remove the cast under anestheisa on Sept 24 (6:00 am UGH). Brandon was in great spirits after hearing that the doctors were going to try and place a walking cast on the foot on the 24th. At least Brandon could walk rather than be in a wheelchair. Brandon is getting a little restless and you can tell he is ready to walk again. I think he can last another two weeks. Friday the school closed and Brandon stayed at home with me. Below is a picture of Brandon with Dr Birch.

Leah

Back to School Back to Dallas

Brandon started school this week after being off for two weeks. He has done very well returning. Unfortunately we have to go back to Dallas on wednesday afternoon for our check of the cast thursday. Brandon will return to school on friday. Brandon is doing very well transitioning from the wheelchair. He is also dealing with the foot pain very well. Hopefully the cast is surviving well and we can have it removed on Sept 24th. They will replace it with another cast after removing the pins and possibly the button. They will then mold his foot for a brace. Then 3 more weeks while the brace is being made. Brandon will be very happy when he gets a little more independent and when he does not have to bathe with water being poured over his head. He's a real trooper. Need to pack - AGAIN.
Leah

His Gift

Kind of hard to see, but Brandon's gift after surgery was Beatles Monopoly. Brandon finally asked to sit up today. You can see the cast on his foot. It goes up to below the knee. He has been sleeping for long periods of time. He also has a few medical issues now which hopefully will clear up soon (not major).

Thanks Kate for the call from Tulsa so Brandon could hear "Sgt Peppers" live from Tulsa. That really made his day.

We are hoping Brandon can go back to school sometime this week.

Leah