Surgery

Riley has been struggling with contractures in his ankles. While its inevitable to happen given his muscular disease there are ways to help prevent it through stretching and ankle orthotic braces. Riley's feet got so bad that we have gone through three sets of braces because by the time we get them in the mail his feet are worse and the braces don't fit. The contractures are really benign and usually don't cause pain or discomfort but he hasn't been able to stand in his stander because he doesn't have the proper braces. He has also become very uncomfortable when you manipulate his feet to dress him, move him etc. the 'cure' for this is to go in and lengthen the tendons by cutting notches in them. I know sounds terrible but for someone who doesn't walk it really is just a minor surgery. He actually had it done when he was just shy of 2 years old so we were comfortable with the process. So we woke up bright and early and headed up to the hospital. To our surprise Riley's BFF Noah happened to be there too for a routine procedure of his own. These two must be true kindred spirits! Anyway, the surgery went very well and he was in and out if the OR in only 30 minutes which they originally planned an hour. So from time of surgery to discharge was only 2 1/2 hours a new record for us! Now he has one blue and one red cast for 4 weeks and then his feet will be good as new he really is a a tough kid and endures a lot and never complains. Then again being super cute and wooing the nurses does help.