Thursday 29th january 2009

Another ordinary Thursday has just turned into something ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR!!!!! Guess what?! Sarah has just walked from the living room, to the kitchen, up the kitchen and back again, WITH NO CRUTCHES!!!!!!! Oh My God!! I cannot tell you how excited I am, how happy I am, and how much I just cried my eyes out!!!! I told her on the way home from school today that I was giving her a month to practise walking with one crutch, and then on 1st March, I was taking one away, so she had to walk with one crutch all the time. She moaned, said she couldn't do it, she would have to take 2 crutches to school as it was all bumpy and slippery, and I despaired a bit that my idea wasn't going to work.She had her tea, and went off to Guides, with the promise she would walk on 1 crutch round the church hall until I collected her. She came home, and for some reason, she started to try and stand on one foot at the bottom of the stairs. She said she felt hyper and managed to stand on her bad leg for a second, and she did it a couple of times. Dave asked her what it felt like when she did it - her answer was it felt fine and no different than the other leg! I challenged her, and said if she could put her weight on her foot standing still, then why couldn't she do it whilst walking? So, without prompting, she got up, and took a step - admittedly more a limp than a step, but there was no crutch. She realised it was OK - she wasn't going to fall over - and she took another one. Great excitement filled the air - I started cheering her on, and the look on her face when she got to the kitchen not holding on to her crutches that have become part of her life, was an absolute picture!. She then pushed on, walked all the way to the end of the kitchen, and back again. She has gone to bed now, after giving me a big cuddle as I wept buckets of tears!!! She thought it was hilarious that I was crying, but all the stress of seeing my 11 year old daughter, who should be running round with her friends at school, stuck indoors with crutches welded on to her hands, melted away. I can see light at the end of the tunnel . I can see her dancing at her party next Saturday, which I was hoping would happen when I organised it, but realistically didn't really believe would happen.I know the walking is more limping, and I'm sure we are a long way from a proper step yet, but I cannot tell you how proud I am of her. GO SARAH!!!!!!

Friday 23rd January 2009

Everything has been ticking away quite nicely this week. Sarah is feeling well and full of energy - she's been at school all week, swimming on Monday night, Guides on Thursday doing Boxercise of all things!! She's been to a birthday party at the tenpin bowling alley and is now having a sleepover - normal service has been resumed!!Only thing missing is the walking! Still bumbling along on 2 crutches not in any hurry to do any more actually, but we seem to have got a bit used to it, and unfortunately, because Sarah is now used to it, she's quite happy. She is able to swim and go to school and parties and has even mastered stairs at school to go into the artroom instead of having her lessons by herself in the canteen.Because she hasn't been prevented from doing anything, the hoped for incentive to walk is yet to happen. On the plus side, the physio says she can now feel a muscle forming above Sarahs kneecap, so her exercises must be working.If we can build up enough muscle to hold her leg straight, she will hopefully be able to eventually take that first step and then she'll be off. Its almost as if she's forgotten how to walk a proper step with that leg.If we can train her brain, muscles etc to do the right movement again, then maybe we'll have success.In the meantime, we have to just carry on with the school run in the car instead of catching the bus with her friends, and shuffling slowly from the changing rooms at the swimming pool on the walking frame.Even a slip over on the wet floor at school yesterday didn't deter Sarah one bit. Quite happily she stayed at school, sat in the school wheelchair because she twisted her ankle, for the last 2 lessons!!What is the point in me banning the wheelchair at home, if all she has to do is say her ankle hurts for them to sit her in the emergency one at school!! Aaaaagggghhhh!!!!
We are in full swing in our organisation of Katie and Sarahs joint birthday party on 7th Feb. Sarah is mega-excited and her friends are too!I sorted my fancy dress costume out this week - you will have to wait for the photos to see what it is, but it should be great!!! 60 people are coming to this thing at the last count, so I am getting a bit jittery!! I'm sure it will be fine, but there is so much to do. All will be worth it as my 2 girls deserve a great night. Sarah for obvious reasons, and Katie too for being the greatest 18 year old ever.I hope they have fun!!

Tuesday 13th January

Monday 5th January was a trip to see Maria, Sarah's consultant at UCH - she was very pleased with her progress, and apart from nearly insisting on a blood test(Sarah had a panic fit and she changed her mind!!)it was uneventful, thank goodness - and long may it continue. These 2 monthly appointments will fill me with fear and dread for years to come, in case of a recurrance, but fingers crossed it won't happen. Sarah was sent for a chest X-ray, and I'm assuming it was clear as we haven't had a phone call hauling us back in again. Back to school Tuesday - a bit of a shock getting up at 7am again and Soooooooo cold!!! Sarah had a good week,managing to go all day from 8.40am to 3.15pm for 3 days (and I went to work - shock horror!!!)before yet another day off to go to the hearing centre. That too was uneventful, and we were told that they were happy that Sarah's selective hearing was 'normal' and it was her attention span that was lacking, not her hearing ability!!!(We could have told them that 6 months ago!)
Friday night Sarah went back to swimming club for the first time since February! She was very happy, and they were really pleased to see her. She hobbled in on her walking frame, did 30 lengths as if there was nothing wrong with her leg, and was hoisted out on the disabled hoist when she got tired!
Saturday, we all got up at 6.45am to take Katie to Southampton to play in an indoor hockey tournament - we had a nice day out, did a bit of shopping and watched Katie's team lose 2 games - oh well!!!!
Monday 12th, school again followed by swimming club yet again - go Sarah!!! She managed to swim for 45 minutes this time and did a few backstroke lengths which involved alot more kicking with BOTH legs - lets hope all this exercise works wonders with her walking...........I might be imagining it, but I'm sure there is a slight improvement when she walks - definately a bit more weight going down. She can get 7 stone pushed through it on the scales standing still-so far costing me a 'Pop Party 6'CD, 'The Boy in the Dress' book,and 'Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium' DVD-bribery works every time with my daughter - but no where near as much when actually moving!!I am living in hope that one day, I will come in from work and she will be walking round the house unaided. I keep walking off with the crutches to see if she'll try, but no sign yet........At least the wheelchair hasn't been used since Disneyland - my back is very grateful!!

Saturday 3rd January 2009

Happy New Year all our blogging friends!! Its been a busy week since we last updated, with the last of the Xmas celebrations coming to an end and a trip to High School Musical on Ice!! We got invited to the 'Visa Executive box' at the O2 arena by CLIC Sergeant to see the ice show, complete with nibbles and drinks on tap followed by lunch laid on. Ever so posh, and I could get quite used to it, actually!!! Millie stayed for a sleepover on New Years Eve and we watched the fireworks on the telly, drank Bucks Fizz and went to bed around 1am. I really couldn't celebrate the passing of an old year in the right way - I was just glad to see the back of it, and tears flowed uncontrollably at midnight, even though I vowed not to cry! I should be pleased the year was over but relief was the correct word I think.Still, we must be positive, and believe that 2009 will be better, and if Sarah has anything to do with it, it will be. She is looking great, her hair is growing back nice and thick, and she is going back to school on Tuesday. The wheelchair is being locked in the dining room, and we are hoping the crutches will soon follow(we can live in hope can't we....?)Sarah has been doing well in physio, although is still not weight bearing when she walks - can manage 5 stone when standing still, but her leg waves in the air when walking!! She is going back to swimming club next Friday, so I'm hoping that will strengthen her leg enough to make her step on her leg - PLEASE!!!! I have told her we are not even going to look at holidays for the summer until she is walking, in a hope to encourage her, but so far nothing. Maybe her school friends will help.
She has planned a huge fancy dress party for her birthday in February( and her sisters 18th), and Katie has tried to persuade her to walk so she can dance at her party - that really will be the best present she can get.