Yesterday we had an appointment with Orthotics to see if there was anything that would help Ollie’s standing position and aid him walking. After they watched him moving around for about 15 minutes it was decided he would be given AFOs and could they take his casts right now!
Yes you can. Yes whatever will help my beautiful little boy...do it please!
But sorry what are they?!
This journey is such a learning curve. There is so much available for any additional needs that I have never even heard of...and why would I?!
AFOs are plastic moulds that act like braces that help to keep Oliver’s feet in the correct position whilst standing and walking. Currently his ankles are leaning in and this isn’t good for future walking targets.
So we had the casts taken and we pick them up in 4 weeks. Ollie was great, watched intensely at them making them and keeping an eye on them!
We were given an option of design to be printed in the plastic of the AFOs...anything from plain white to butterfly’s or skull and crossbones! This took me by surprise. I mean really. It really did. I was full of anxiety before the appointment. What will he need? Please say he needs something? Please don’t make us wait in the system?
But I was not expecting to choose colours or themes for something we would use for months at a time! How silly! But it threw me. It was an important decision. At least that is how it felt. He can’t make those choices! I have to do that for him!
I could feel the anxiety rising again so I gave him the plastic cards and decided he could pick. Whatever card he played with - he was having!
He ‘picked’ plain dark blue. No silly designs for me please mummy!
We work with many teams in different hospitals.
It is true what they say, it takes a village to raise a child.
I don’t like to ask for help it is a massive downfall of mine. I will do it. I can do it. But I have to this time around and we can’t do this on our own and that is OK too.
The NHS and all of Ollie’s teams are AMAZING. I mean that genuinely. boy to have so many people routing for him!
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