3rd Edition Prosthesis

The video shows Mason walking from the prostheticist's office with his new leg.  The leg better fits his anatomy and he can manuever it very well!  We are very excited.  He is doing so well that we are going to take a Physical Therapy break for the summer and resume during the new school year.  Sometime in August/September we will fly back to Portland for a follow-up visit.  Mason may need to have the pin removed in his leg but we will see.

Mason and I are off to Maryland for 3 weeks to help my friend Tammy who just moved there to a new base.  Randy will be working hard in Florida with Mocha.  He will fly out to CA for a wedding weekend in late May. 

Just another video of our silly monkey walking and talking.  Isn't he just awesome?!!  I know... slightly biased ;)  Happy Spring and Happy Easter everyone!!



Trying on his new leg



See how the hinge is slightly turned compared
to the socket, this fits the angle of his
foot better because it isn't 180 degrees backwards.

Looking down on the leg

Front view

Great fit!

Randy playing with the pressure washer

Mason walking


Rough draft leg

Mason's tow bike with the dump truck hitched up

Randy is Home and a New Leg

Mason has been having such a great time with his daddy!  In the video, he is wearing the "rough draft" version of his new leg.  After the follow up with Dr. Krajbich, his prosthesis needed to be altered to better fit Mason's anatomy.  We are trying out the rough draft leg to make sure it fits and functions properly before it is fully finished.  Mase seems to have an easier time walking, keeping his leg straight under him and bending his "ank-knee".  Check out the photos with more to come!

Silly Monkey

3 month surgery update

We just flew to Portland and back on Wed/Thu for a followup to Mason's surgery.  Everything has healed nicely!  Mason is sensitive when his right leg is rotated inwardly, so Dr. Krabich mentioned that we might need to take the pin out of his leg if it's bothering him.  We'll see in 6mths when we go back.  Also, he is going to keep an eye on the left hip and left femur for proper development.  Dr. K. mentioned that there might be lengthening in the future depending on what how the left leg grows.  I really pray that is not the case because limb lengthening is brutal: they break the bone, put a device around the legs with pins that need to be twisted periodically to stretch the bone, the pin sites need to be cleaned daily ... not fun.  Anyway, Mason's prosthetic needs to be altered too, it's a good leg it's just not truly fit to Mason's physiology so he is having to compensate alot while he walks.  That's where we are at.  In the meantime, Mason is doing great with his walking!  He is actually attempting it on his own and wants to keep his leg on when we get home (before he would pull it off as soon as we came in the door).  They are having him use his cane less and less at school and this morning he actually walked into the kitchen to come get his toy off the counter.  It's a joy to see and I'm so proud of my monkey!

As for me, Project Linus is progressing too.  I'm hosting an open house tomorrow to get the word out to the local area and I'm excited to see who else wants to share this wonderful service opportunity with me!  Randy will be home in about 2 weeks and Great-Grandma is coming to visit for a week in March.  2011 is flying by!  My goodness it goes fast, need to remind myself to smell the roses once in a while.. you too!

Independent Steps

Mason walked about 75ft at therapy yesterday all by himself!  Here's a tidbit of what I got him to do today.  He is doing so well after his second surgery.  His new leg is working great!  We fly back to Portland for a follow up on Feb. 16th.  Hopefully everything is good on the xray... the last follow up was when we found out he needed the repair surgery.  I'm sure it's fine!  Now, just practice practice practice!  He can climb in and out of the car by himself with a step stool and I make him walk everywhere.  That cane will be long gone in no time :)