Roland's DTKAFO Brace for Unilateral Clubfoot
Donation protected
1 in 1000 babies are born with a clubfoot or clubfeet.
Our little Roland was born with a left club foot.
He has officially started on his journey to fix it so he can be able to walk, run and play once he grows up. He will be receiving a series of casts over the next few months to slowly reset his foot properly. Once his casting is complete he will most likely have his Achilles snipped, followed by another cast, then he will have to have his foot braced for 3 to 5 years. The normal bracing most people have used for the last 40 years are special boots that are then attached to a bar, about shoulder length apart. He would have to wear them 23 hours a day for 3 to 6 months, then for naps and night time till he was 5 years old. Strapped to a bar. Not ideal.
So we have looked into alternative bracing options. Seeing he only has one clubfoot. There is a special brace based out of Saco Maine called the Cunningham DTKAFO Brace. "We have spent the past 15 years developing an alternative method of bracing called the Cunningham Clubfoot Brace (also known as the Dynamic Torsional KAFO or DTKAFO) that combines the best features of both approaches. It is basically a flexible brace that is only fitted to the affected leg and allows movement for all of the normal activities such as crawling, rolling, standing and even walking. The brace is always gently stretching the baby into the correct position though, so it is acting as though the therapist is always there manipulating and correcting the foot rather than fixing it rigidly in a pre-determined position. In the case of a unilateral (single) clubfoot, because each leg is treated independently, only the affected foot is involved."
http://www.cunninghamprostheticcare.com/clubfoot-bracing
After a lot of research we have decided this is what would be best for our little man. Unfortunately it is not a bracing option that our insurance will cover. We will have to pay out of pocket for him to receive the best treatment for our situation. I have been in contact with the Cunningham Brace office and the price for visits for fittings and the brace to be made specially for him will be about 2100 dollars. Not cheap, but knowing he will be able to freely move and develop as every child should be able to is totally worth it.
Of course this is a very hard time for everyone with how the world is currently going crazy. So we know not as many people as normal will be able to donate. But everything helps us reach our goal, which is giving Roland the best chance at living a normal infant and toddler life.
We appreciate every dollar and every share and can't wait for the day we can watch Roland run around.
Our little Roland was born with a left club foot.
He has officially started on his journey to fix it so he can be able to walk, run and play once he grows up. He will be receiving a series of casts over the next few months to slowly reset his foot properly. Once his casting is complete he will most likely have his Achilles snipped, followed by another cast, then he will have to have his foot braced for 3 to 5 years. The normal bracing most people have used for the last 40 years are special boots that are then attached to a bar, about shoulder length apart. He would have to wear them 23 hours a day for 3 to 6 months, then for naps and night time till he was 5 years old. Strapped to a bar. Not ideal.
So we have looked into alternative bracing options. Seeing he only has one clubfoot. There is a special brace based out of Saco Maine called the Cunningham DTKAFO Brace. "We have spent the past 15 years developing an alternative method of bracing called the Cunningham Clubfoot Brace (also known as the Dynamic Torsional KAFO or DTKAFO) that combines the best features of both approaches. It is basically a flexible brace that is only fitted to the affected leg and allows movement for all of the normal activities such as crawling, rolling, standing and even walking. The brace is always gently stretching the baby into the correct position though, so it is acting as though the therapist is always there manipulating and correcting the foot rather than fixing it rigidly in a pre-determined position. In the case of a unilateral (single) clubfoot, because each leg is treated independently, only the affected foot is involved."
http://www.cunninghamprostheticcare.com/clubfoot-bracing
After a lot of research we have decided this is what would be best for our little man. Unfortunately it is not a bracing option that our insurance will cover. We will have to pay out of pocket for him to receive the best treatment for our situation. I have been in contact with the Cunningham Brace office and the price for visits for fittings and the brace to be made specially for him will be about 2100 dollars. Not cheap, but knowing he will be able to freely move and develop as every child should be able to is totally worth it.
Of course this is a very hard time for everyone with how the world is currently going crazy. So we know not as many people as normal will be able to donate. But everything helps us reach our goal, which is giving Roland the best chance at living a normal infant and toddler life.
We appreciate every dollar and every share and can't wait for the day we can watch Roland run around.
Organizer
Caitlin Yazell
Organizer
Epsom, NH