New after pictures

Here are a couple of new after pictures.  Tyler's back is healed so well that the incisions are a little hard to see in the picture, and I celebrate that!  I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Tyler has also grown about an inch since the surgery straightened his spine.

Post-op update

Life has pretty much returned to normal!  I know I never updated after Tyler's post-op appointment, so here is how it went.  We did not expect to have more x-rays, but the doctor wanted updated ones.  Then we saw our new doctor, Dr. Klane White at Seattle Children's Hospital.  We liked meeting with him and although he was obviously very busy, he still took the time to answer all of our questions.  He showed us Tyler's x-rays and was happy with the placement of the VEPTR rod.  He looked at Tyler's incisions and he said they were healing nicely.  Joey and I were excited to learn that Tyler really has very few restrictions now that he is getting back to his active self.  Dr. White reminded us that all activities have some level of risk, but that it is very important to let Tyler just be a kid.  We just need to be aware that some activities carry a higher risk (of breaking the rod or knocking it out of place) than others.  He did say that football and wrestling are sports Tyler should not participate in, but that Joey can take Ty skiing. 

The only disappointing part of the appointment was when Dr. White told us that he will begin the paperwork to schedule the next surgery.  I know that surgery schedules a few months out, but it was just not what we wanted to hear.  We finally feel like life is getting back to normal, and here we go scheduling the next surgery.  I know that it is part of the VEPTR process.  Once the initial implant is in, the VEPTR has to be lengthened every 6 months.  I guess we need to get used to that being part of our normal. 

After Tyler impressed the doctor and nurse with his movement, we spent some time with my friend Jessica who lives in Green Lake.  She is and inspiration to many as she battles brain cancer with a healthy lifestyle and an outstanding attitude.  Jess has such a positive outlook on life and is quick to remember and remind everyone to have compassion and understanding for others.  You can check her story out on her blog www.jessicaoldwyn.blogspot.com.  We had a fun time hanging out and she even took us on a little walk to Green Lake! 

After a fun weekend we came home and remembered one of the questions we forgot to ask Dr. White.  Tyler had been having some intermittent pain in his right arm, right at the armpit area.  We were concerned that it might be related to the VEPTR implant because the pain was on the right side, the same side as the implant.  After a quick call to Nicole, Dr. White's nurse, I was reassured that although the pain may be related to the VEPTR, it was not something to be concerned about.  As long as Tyler was not experiencing anything that might indicate a neurological problem, like numbness, he was OK.  Over the past week, it seems like Tyler is complaining of the pain less and less. He is still more emotional than he was before surgery, but we are hoping that will return to normal soon as well.