Donovan's casting in Saint Louis
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My son Donovan was born June 22 with myelomeningocele, enlarged ventricles, septo-optic dysplasia and bi-lateral clubbed feet. Upon birth he had a surgery for closure of his spine which went very well and he has healed tremendously.
He began treatment by ponseti method method ( https://www.hss.edu/conditions_the-ponseti-method-for-clubfoot-correction.asp)
directly after his NICU stay at 3 weeks old. I was told it would be 5-8 casts weekly (serial casting) and then he would undergo and tenotomy followed by boots & bar for 3 months 23/7 then up to about 3 years of age for nightly wear. His casting began and was told at 5 weeks of casting he was corrected and underwent his tenotomy and changed over to boots and bar. Half way through casting I was suspicious of things not going well but was assured all was well and his response was great considering his nerve damage due to the spina bifida, I trusted this opinion. Fast forward, I kept feeling recently like his feet didn't seem corrected, I sought out a second opinion from a clubbed foot specialist who is in Saint Louis, MO by the name of Dr. Dobbs, he has urged Donovan to come there to receive expert care for casting since he does not believe his feet have been properly casted which has caused him to develop complex foot. It is very important to our family for him to receive the best treatment. Unfortunately his health insurance will not cover out of state medical expenses despite the fact that there are no good specialists for this in Florida.
All of this has led to flying back and forth to Saint Louis, MO for 5 appointments with possible follow ups later. The expense of traveling, child care for Ezekiel while gone, plus medical expense has put us in a very tight spot. Anything is appreciated, inluding sharing this post and prayers.
Thank you so much to those who have helped in any way so far.
He began treatment by ponseti method method ( https://www.hss.edu/conditions_the-ponseti-method-for-clubfoot-correction.asp)
directly after his NICU stay at 3 weeks old. I was told it would be 5-8 casts weekly (serial casting) and then he would undergo and tenotomy followed by boots & bar for 3 months 23/7 then up to about 3 years of age for nightly wear. His casting began and was told at 5 weeks of casting he was corrected and underwent his tenotomy and changed over to boots and bar. Half way through casting I was suspicious of things not going well but was assured all was well and his response was great considering his nerve damage due to the spina bifida, I trusted this opinion. Fast forward, I kept feeling recently like his feet didn't seem corrected, I sought out a second opinion from a clubbed foot specialist who is in Saint Louis, MO by the name of Dr. Dobbs, he has urged Donovan to come there to receive expert care for casting since he does not believe his feet have been properly casted which has caused him to develop complex foot. It is very important to our family for him to receive the best treatment. Unfortunately his health insurance will not cover out of state medical expenses despite the fact that there are no good specialists for this in Florida.
All of this has led to flying back and forth to Saint Louis, MO for 5 appointments with possible follow ups later. The expense of traveling, child care for Ezekiel while gone, plus medical expense has put us in a very tight spot. Anything is appreciated, inluding sharing this post and prayers.
Thank you so much to those who have helped in any way so far.
Organizer
Nicole Taft
Organizer
Gainesville, FL
