The Most Amazing Day

Today has been the most amazing day!  Today was the big day for Jadon's cast to come off!  We were not sure what to expect.  Would we see new things right away?  We had heard other parents say that they did, but I did not want to get my hopes up too much.

Jadon had the appropriate shirt on.  I have been saving this shirt for cast removal day.  It says "Caution, Under Construction.  Please excuse my mess".  Then on the back is a warning label that says "Adult supervision required".  Dr. Kozin got a real kick out of this shirt.  Said it was perfect.

Dr. Kozin removed Jadon's cast.  He did not care much for this part.  It does not hurt but the saw is very loud and that scared Jadon.  Fortunately, Dr. Kozin was very fast.  Just cutting slits in the cast but leaving it on until we could go upstairs to see the therapists. 

Once we were upstairs in the therapy rooms they took the cast off but we had to continue to hold up Jadon's arm up.  They did not want it to fall rapidly and put stress on the tendon that is freshly healed.  So until they got his brace ready we had to hold up his arm.  It felt like it took forever for them to get his brace just the way they wanted it.  Jadon was getting a little impatient with us holding his arm and not letting him down.  Fortunately I was armed with plenty of suckers and fruit snacks to keep him happy. 

While waiting for parts of the brace to be adjusted the therapist stayed in the room with us and tried to get him to try a few things.  She took her badge and keys that Jadon had been interested in and held them above Jadon's head to try and get him to reach for them.  This is something we have never seen him do before but he did it!  I could not believe it.  He reach up over his head for the keys multiple times.  It was like watching a miracle.  I cried.  It was such a happy moment!   Then a little while later she got him to touch his head.  We kept clapping and cheering.  Jadon being the ham that he is loved every second of it. 

I found after taking the above pics that I was technically not supposed to take any pictures in therapy so I had to wait to capture the new movements until getting back to the Ronald McDonald House.

We went to a place called Reading Terminal Market for lunch.  Then we came back to the RMH for nap.  We all took a two hour nap.  After all that excitement we were worn out!

Pic of the Ronald McDonald House we stay at on Erie St.

Pic of Jadon in his new brace he has to wear for 8 weeks.  He will have to wear it when he is sleeping for 12 weeks it sounds like. 

After nap it was bathtime!  Time to get the stink off the boy!  He was happy as you can see from the picture below!

Then I got him to show me his new tricks with Righty so I could take some pictures.  We have never before seem him raise his arm to even shoulder height or out away from his body let alone this high!  Look at that!!

I am still trying to get him to reach up with both Lefty and Righy at the same time.  He is so used to them doing things separately.

Love, love, love this!

So that is what today was like!  We have a lot of restrictions right now.  We can't push his arm down.  Right now his arm does not go all the way down to his side.  Once the cast has been off longer and those muscles relax it will come down on its own.  We can't force it.  We also can't let him do any movements in towards his body either.  And no weight bearing.  For  today the brace was only supposed to be off for a half an hour but the therapists said that the goal is to have it more off than on by the end of the week. 

I did not mind keeping it on today.  I was so nervous about him doing something he was not supposed to be doing!  I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!