The Un-Casting

She went from crying in pain all though the day and night, to getting her cast put on, but not knowing how to move.  She learned to crawl, climb, and walk.  She cried over not being able to bathe, she hated having her hair washed in the sink.  The cast cover was a bear to put on and take off, but it allowed her finally to bathe and swim and enjoy the beach.  In some ways it’s been a long 4 weeks, yet it also seems to have flown by.

Zach and I both wanted to go with her and we thought Isaac and Charlotte would want to see it come off.  Ila came along for the ride.8.9.10 cast removal (8) The nurse said that her mother makes these bears for the little children when they have their casts removed.  Nicole liked the bear and hugged it right away.  She cried in the van when she dropped it and couldn’t reach it. 8.9.10 cast removal (1)She cried and thrashed as the nurse tried to remove the cast. Zach did his best to hold her down, but she was panicked. 8.9.10 cast removal (3)8.9.10 cast removal (6)I was pleased to see that there were no toys or pennies inside.  Her leg was covered in dead and pealing skin, but not terribly dirty and the muscle had atrophied so that her right leg looked skinnier than her left.  The sore on her foot looked worse than I expected, but after a bath the blood and dried skin washed away and I could see that it was healing ok.8.9.10 cast removal (10)She was quite grumpy for the rest of the morning and cried when she tried to bear weight on her weakened leg and ankle.  By the end of the day she was limping around the house, mostly walking on her toes like she did with the cast on but starting to try a little flat footed walking.  Hopefully tomorrow brings more healing and more mobility.