The Foot, Part II

After seven weeks and one day after the injury to the foot, C declared she was healing and turning a corner.  I almost cancelled the appointment with pediatric orthopedics, but decided not too. It was the following week and just shy of eight weeks from injury date.  I am so glad I kept that appointment.  The orthopedist looked at the x-ray and saw a small hairline fracture in the lateral metatarsal of her foot.  Along with some severe tendonitites of the small tendon from that bone to the growth plate of the foot.  A common area of injury in active kids.  She was indeed set back by lack of treatment in her foot for the first two weeks.  Perhaps the tendonities might not have developed if she'd been diagnosed appropriately and put in a boot.  It also didn't help that, if I didn't misunderstand, the original pediatritian
who read the x-ray didn't have radiology read it.  I'll address that later since I don't really care for that pediatrician at all anyways (a whole other separate story).

C was told to listen to her body.  If she has pain in her foot she needs to back off and rest it.  Protect the foot.  Where the boot when around a lot of people to prevent it from getting stepped on.  Continue with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).  The doctor assured her that she did not suffer any long term damage to her foot by not being put in a cast right away, it just delayed the healing process.  So it's just really important to not re-injure and to continue to allow it to heal.  She can still swim, but no high impact activities like running, jumping, etc.

I thought C was just being dramatic.  Now I feel horrible, but relieved to know that she really did have an explainable injury to her foot.  I'm also really ticked at the doctor who originally blew off her injury as a sprain and said she'd be better by Monday.  Ticked at myself for not asking him more questions.  Of course, I thought it was like all other injuries that she'd bounce back from in a couple of weeks.

The long course (LC) swim season in USA swimming is April to August.  There are few swim meets during this season.  I think there were four meets prior to the Junior Olympic meet in mid-July.  C had already scratched met two.  I signed her up for an additional meet to make up for it, but she had been swimming a lot with a bouey, not swimming breaststroke, or fly, backstroke minimal, not practicing starts etc.  She started shaving time off here and there.  I think she's only been swimming without a bouey four weeks ago and she starts resting the foot cause it gets tired and achey.  Anyways, she has wanted to qualify for the JO meet in July so badly.  She did today in the 100 free by 0.04 of a second.

C's looking forward to our travel meet and continuing to mend her foot!

Why?

A few weeks ago, I heard through the swim circle about one of the swimmers I had met from our old swim team had relapsed with cancer.  If I remember correctly she was diagnosed the summer of 2011.  I tie this around swim events that I recollect.  She was one of the high school swimmers and from what I hear an amazing wrestler.  I only had a few opportunities to interact with her personally, but I loved the influence she had on my daughter.  Her name is Lauren.  I loved her sparkle and spunk.  I loved so much that she had the courage and passion to participate in a sport that had few women participating in.  She was also an amazing swimmer and just an all around great athlete.  As a mother of a daughter, I couldn't wish for a better role model.  Unfortunately, her first diagnosis removed her from swimming and we would only hear about her progress through the swim social circle.  But she has NEVER been forgotten and she and her family have always remained in our thoughts.

I heard that she relapsed with Ewing Sarcoma and this time around it's more aggressive. Having spent three years in pediatric oncology with my own small child I know this is not good.  I recollect those years in the pediatric oncology life and can't help but wonder why so many of our beautiful children with such amazing spirits, have to be struck with such aggressive diseases.  I believe that all children have potential to do and be amazing, but some just have that something extra special about them.  These young lives with such bright sparks of life seem to be struck more often than those who are unkind, mean spirited, and cruel to others.  Don't get me wrong I do not wish this diagnosis on anyone. It's just an observation.  That suffering does not typically come to those who, I hate to say it, actually, could use a little suffering for the suffering they inflicted upon others.  There I said it.  And in my mind, it's unfair to rob these amazing individuals of the wonder lives they deserve.

Since hearing about Lauren's relapse.  Not only are my thoughts on her and how she must deal with her own illness, but on her parents and her brother.  It's a personal tragedy for each one of them.  They all love her so.  C is deeply bothered and saddened for Lauren.  C never got to meet her own sister who was another amazing person even if her life was very short.  C said I think Lauren is going to be a miracle surprise.  She's going to be like F and live a very long time.  She will show the doctors.  I hope so.  I really do.

Lauren started a blog of her own.  She has such grace.  If you would like to be moved and inspired here is the link.

http://thenotdyinggirl.com

In the grand scheme of life, my problems and worries are so small in comparison.  What we do today does matter and it matters most to those we love.

The Foot

Five weeks ago tomorrow, C injured the side of her foot.  It's right on the bony prominence of the side of her foot.  She had an x-ray to rule out fracture.  It was negative.  Then two weeks later with she was still complaining about her foot.  After seeing it.  She had a HUGE red area around that bony area.  At first I thought that she had something imbedded and potentially abscessing, but it wasn't red and angry enough.  Then I started to think it was a pressure sore.  The doctor referred her for MRI and also put her in a boot at my request.

The MRII results came in negative for anything other than inflammation due to trauma.  She is still to rest and ice the foot.  The foot pain is down from a 9 to now a 3.  She is trying to swim until it gets too painful and then she swims with a bouey.  I've started tanking her for cryo therapy which sees to be the first thing that that has helped since first getting the boot.  I wonder if it's just a bruise on the bone?  The swelling is starting to finally come down, but I'm starting to get frustrated.

C has pulled out of some fun end of year school activities. This sends a clear message to me.  That there is a real problem with the foot.  She has been referred to orthopedics to have them check her injury. All results tell me it's not serious, but....as a mom, I still can't help but wonder what is really going on.

Since I started this draft post, the foot has improved, now her right hip hurts.  Today for the first time she took off the boot.  I think walking lopsided aggravated the hip.  If it's not one thing it's another with this child.  I've told her to drink water along with the other helpful things like ice, ibuprofen, and stretching.  She's just so inconsistent.  The water is the big thing.  She DRIVES me crazy with her lack of drinking anything liquid. Maybe some day she will be injury free.  My fingers are crossed!  

7th Grade Comes to an End

C's first year back in an educational system is finally coming to an end.  She is considered to be an 8th grader now.  This year has not been without it's many challenges.  She bumped into a new group at swim in the beginning of the school year.  Along with a new coach and all new teachers it was quite a year for her.

She did pretty well.  We discovered that she definitely has ADD inattentive form.  It's always been suspected and we tried medication at the beginning of the year.  Since it was her option, she decided she was doing well without it and wanted to stop taking it.  After a rocky few months and some extremely challenging days she began taking the medication again in March... CONSISTENTLY.  I noticed that her grades were stabilizing.  She was surprised she wasn't being told on a regular basis that she wasn't paying attention or listening.  She was was just easier to direct and seemed to be able to keep herself on task.  Teachers noticed an improvement and so did her swim coaches.

It wasn't until recently that I had teachers tell me how forgetful she was with assignments and due dates.   One teacher remarked that she seemed uninterested, but then said she realized she needed more processing time. Others said they'd like to see her more engaged.  One thing I've discovered about private school is that C bored with their curriculum.  She has an A in English which shocked me since having home schooled her I felt her work was C the majority of the time, B at best.  She was in advanced math, taking Algebra as a 7th grader and that was beneficial.  I wish they had advanced science and history.  To look at her report card she is doing well.  It does not reflect the challenges that she has.  Look at the regular assignments and you see where she falters.  Overall, I believe she is extremely bright, but has challenges.  I'm hoping our insurance covers a thorough assessment of her.

I did okay with this year.  There are just some things that I can't handle.  I don't like being told that certain after school activities are "mandatory."  REally?  Isn't that MY time with my child?  You have her all day and you want her after hours for activities.  I realize that with my experiences with F and his school district, that I really am untrusting of any entity that is educating my child.  That their father and I know what is best for them.  That we determine what is mandatory and what is not.  In my mind there are just some things that educational institutions do that I just think are stupid.  I don't like the atmosphere that puts an emphasis on following rules and formats that suit an average majority.  Don't get me wrong, the small Christian private school does a GREAT job overall of focusing on individual children.  It has it's positives and negatives.  I realize there is just no perfect solution and that my experiences have tainted any view I will have of a fair and appropriate education system.  I just can't undo that way of thinking.

We've enrolled her the school again for 8th grade.  She wants to return, but if she continues to tell me how bored she is with the curriculum we may have to make changes.  For now the friendship and learning to work in that environment has been valuable.  I'll wait and see what modifications may be necessary if any with her assessments.