Back to McMaster yesterday (Monday) to get more X-rays on Emmys feet. Her heel is healing. Slowly. I was worried that it wasn’t because it is still swollen and a total different shape. It was reassuring to hear it’s healing. Her left ankle is always going to be thicker then her right one. I just haven’t broken that news to her yet. She thinks it will go back to the way it was.. Emmy is referred to the mystery girl in the orthopaedic office. Everyone knew her. Her break was so severe with no known cause and minimal pain. It has made her famous. And it is concerning. We are worried about her right foot. She has been complaining of the same pain she did with her left and now the right is starting to swell. The X-ray of her right foot shows no break… I am worrried we will have the same situation we had with her left foot. The first X-ray showed nothing but a diagnosis of “severs disease”. We are keeping our eye on it and have been instructed to keep wearing the AFO until it wears out. (Which will be a while yet) to wear it 8-12 hours a day for all weight bearing activities. (Which she is already doing) And she’s not supposed to jump repeatedly. So no jump rope or trampoline. Dr Burrows has referred us to neurosurgery at McMaster. We go back to see her in January. We think she might have a tethered cord. And neurosurgery can diagnose that, they will call me hopefully soon.
Emmerlyn has been struggling with reoccurring bladder infections all summer long. She is on her 3 rd round of antibiotics. In the beginning there were signs. Frequent painful bathroom breaks and accidents. Now. There’s no signs. The only way I know is if we test her urine every couple weeks. So that’s what we are doing. We are heading back to McMaster this Friday to get ultrasound and see the urologist. Bladder and bowl issues can also be a sign of a tethered cord.
Tethered Cord (TC) is a disorder in which the spinal cord is “stuck” to a structure within the spine such as dura, scar tissue from a previous operation, a bony spicule or even a tumor.
Emmy was born with a left lumbosacral myelocystocele so it does make sense that she could possible have a tethered cord. I can actually remember after her surgery at 3 months old the surgeon said there is a possibility of a tethered cord. And more surgery later in life. So she has got a long road ahead still.
I’m scared for her/with her. We will cross whatever bridge we have to when it comes. I don’t know how we can get through all this stuff sometimes. ( Actually after I write that I know how. 🙏🏻)But we do and we are thankful she is healthy and growing and so loved. Over thanksgiving 2 of her younger cousins said they were thankful for Emmy, just Emmy. And it melts my heart. She is a pleasure to be around and spreads her love everywhere she goes. ❤️
Growing in Love 