Monday we returned to Shriners for Ella's follow-up appointment to check her incision. The original plan was for me to remove the dressing at home and to go back at the end of the month when her surgeon would be available. The surgeon's clinic nurse called last week and wanted us to come back earlier and that was fine. The incision looks great and is healing well. Ella was pretty upset about being back in the cast room and with the whole exam. She stopped crying once the cast was back on and she realized that we weren't there to do it all over again. We'll return to see Dr. Bednar later this month and find out when she can keep the cast off and begin physical therapy.
The photo is Ella with Mabel the Cow. We visit Mabel every time we have an appointment at Shriners. Mabel is from the Cows on Parade that were in Chicago several years ago. Thank goodness for Mabel because Ella loves cows and looks forward to seeing her at every visit. There was a film crew at the clinic while we there on Monday and they were following a patient for a documentary. Ella walked all the way down the hall to talk to a couple that was in the group they were following. She wasn't filmed, but she told them all about herself and her day!
It's amazing how well Ella has recovered and adjusted to wearing the cast (which goes around her whole upper body although you can't tell in the photos). Kids are so much more resilient than adults are! It hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Within just a few days, she was able to pick up a chair with one arm, carry it across the room, and climb on top of it to reach what she wanted on the kitchen counter! She seemed uncomfortable for the first few days and I gave her pain medication but now she's doing great. I wondered what she was going to be able to wear since she couldn't wear any regular shirts or winter coats. This was the perfect time of year for her surgery. I found some tanks and button down shirts, and she has a couple vests to wear outside. Getting her in and out of her carseat was a challenge at first, but we've figured that out too. I'm able to bathe her now but it requires assistance of another person because only one half is to removed at a time to keep the arm in the same position. I took a photo of the incision to show Ella and explain to her what she had done. She thought it was pretty cool. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers for Ella Qin Qin!
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