A few weeks ago Nicholas had a gait analysis at A.I. duPont. It was actually a pretty fun Friday for him and his siblings. I can’t share pics because Nick in short shorts is not meant for the internet but the whole thing was so interesting. I suggested they rent the place out for parties. The gentleman who did the study let the sibs try out some fun stuff. I never think going anywhere in a hospital with four children will be easy but it was easy and funny and pretty painless for Nick except he lost some hair getting sticky things taken off after. All the circles on the figure above represent a sticky thing. It all comes back to bandages and tape. #whatFHmomsknow
The image above was given to us on our way out. The complete results of the study take weeks. I so love science and data and as impressed as I was with the whole thing I was not so happy to see this image.
Nick is still bearing weight primarily in the same place he did before he had 3 screws put in his foot.
This study was done after we went to Gig Harbor to get Nicholas fitted for the ExoSym. I am glad we had done so already because I feel this points to the fact that we need non surgical solutions now. The surgical ones just are not cutting it, despite a lot of cutting! Ha! Nick found that quite funny.
I am trying to take the insurance bit of the ExoSym process in stride. Cigna has not completed a preauthorization yet and may not ever. We just have to go and see what happens. This is potentially super nerve wracking as this brace will cost over $10,000. It’s really not just a brace though. It’s Nick having a prosthetic and keeping his foot. It also has a knee component that will be vital. I am understanding this issues Nick’s knee has more and more as Nick works with Reenee his physical therapist extraordinaire.
Yet again I find myself in a situation in which I have had to commit not to let money decide my sons fate. I really wont. It’s not fair to him. On Halloween my boy will get his ExoSym and he will create a whole new set of foot prints and follow the trail blazed by Zak Green and hopefully many kids with fibular hemimelia to come.