Hope...

Matthew has been doing well with his newest AFO. I was worried at first that he was going to need some adjustments, but it seems to be going better then I expected.

Today, he wore his AFO for 5 hours. I noticed he was hopping on his right foot and asked him if his foot hurt. He said, yes. I said, let's go take your AFO off then, but you have to take your sock off and show me where it hurts. With his sock off, I can see any blisters or rub marks. Helps me narrow down what is going on, and where adjustments are needed.

So he took it off and pointed to his long scar on his instep. It is not a spot where an edge touches. I was puzzled and said, really? He said, yes Mommy, but really deep.

Ohhhhhhhh.

Ever have one of those moments where everything stops for a split second? I had one.

What does that mean? I am not sure, I am not a dr, or a p/t, or an orthotist... but to me that meant that his foot was sore from being stretched into a straighter position. Which is the goal.

So, bad mommy here, but I am thrilled that he hurts. It means that for the first time in a long time, his foot was stretched into the proper position for 5 hours.

Don't get me wrong, his foot is still not in nuetral. He will still need the next surgery sooner then anyone had anticipated. But maybe, just maybe, this latest AFO will keep his foot loose enough that he can go farther with the next step.

I can only hope that this is the turn we have been praying for.