Am I crazy?

[mccathy]

So, my son is going to need surgery on BOTH of his feet. Recovery is six weeks with casts - wheel chair/stroller bound.

Would I be crazy to take a "quick" trip to Disneyland? We just went to WDW in Feb. He's been asking to go do Disneyland to see how it's different... I've never been... my friend lives in CA...

I'm racking my brain trying to think of things he'd enjoy even from the confinement of a wheel chair.

Of course, I'd clear it with the doctor... there's got to be plenty of rides he can do. He's not into rollar coasters - well, except for Goofy's Barnstormer.

 

[Echo queen]

Is there any reason you can't wait until he is all better? That sounds like a rough trip.

 

[mccathy]

Is there any reason you can't wait until he is all better? That sounds like a rough trip.

Well, it's only because I'm trying to think of fun things he'd enjoy while in casts...

Otherwise, we'll probably go to CA for spring break next year - months after the surgery.

I could probably find a lot of local things to do - not as hard.

I just can't get this feeling out of me to take him to Disneyland to keep his mind off the fact that he can't do much on his own!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Awww poor little guy, that will be tough. I think this may be one of those things that is going to be harder on you than him. It is a very accessible place so if you really want to go I think you could have good time. I would just worry he would be crabby/fussy what-have-you.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well, it's only because I'm trying to think of fun things he'd enjoy while in casts...

Otherwise, we'll probably go to CA for spring break next year - months after the surgery.

I could probably find a lot of local things to do - not as hard.

I just can't get this feeling out of me to take him to Disneyland to keep his mind off the fact that he can't do much on his own!

sorry, jmho, but I think it would only remind him more that there's a lot he can't do. Esp seeing DL for the 1st time. My boys have always wanted to visit DL and when dh says "it's just like WDW but smaller", we all know it's not really and would still like to compare/contrast the differences, even if minor, for ourselves.

I wouldn't want to go there and not be able to experience everything DL has to offer.


I think I'd find some other thing he's always wanted to do that he'd enjoy. I know my ds9 would love a Phillies game. At least that's sitting for the most part and even with sore feet he'd be able to watch the game as much as any other guest.

Good luck and hope all goes well with his surgery.

 

[Cooky]

.

 

[bearlyanne]

I have a few questions that I am sure you have already thought about, but...

Will you be the only adult? Will you have both of your kids with you? Will he be able to weight bear at all on his casts, or will you need to completely lift him in and out at every ride? Are you physically in shape for that?

I know that you would be able to get a gac card that would allow a stroller to be used as a wheelchair if needed which will be easier and lighter to push, but you might need a wheelchair to keep his legs up.

Can his casts be waterproof?

I think that they trip would be really hard, but it be done with some planning and he will probably really enjoy it. Take a look at the DISabilities Board on the front page. Several people will be able to give you some good advice.

 

[bearlyanne]

I have a few questions that I am sure you have already thought about, but...

Will you be the only adult? Will you have both of your kids with you? Will he be able to weight bear at all on his casts, or will you need to completely lift him in and out at every ride? Are you physically in shape for that?

I know that you would be able to get a gac card that would allow a stroller to be used as a wheelchair if needed which will be easier and lighter to push, but you might need a wheelchair to keep his legs up.

Also, Ii would ask the docs if his casts be waterproof?

I think that they trip would be really hard, but it be done with some planning and he will probably really enjoy it. Take a look at the DISabilities Board on the front page. Several people will be able to give you some good advice.

 

[mccathy]

I have a few questions that I am sure you have already thought about, but...

Will you be the only adult? Will you have both of your kids with you? Will he be able to weight bear at all on his casts, or will you need to completely lift him in and out at every ride? Are you physically in shape for that?

I know that you would be able to get a gac card that would allow a stroller to be used as a wheelchair if needed which will be easier and lighter to push, but you might need a wheelchair to keep his legs up.

Also, Ii would ask the docs if his casts be waterproof?

I think that they trip would be really hard, but it be done with some planning and he will probably really enjoy it. Take a look at the DISabilities Board on the front page. Several people will be able to give you some good advice.

I wouldn't be the only adult - if my husband can't go my mom would come with or I'd enlist the help of my friend. I'm not sure if he can bear weight, but I'm actually in pretty good shape - though I know my back will need some extra stretching at the end of each day.

I would bring both kids - one in a stroller and one in a wheel chair.

It does sound like a lot of work, for me... but it would give him something to look forward to...

 

[tinytreasures]

you need to talk with his dr
He may not be allowed to fly do to blood clots

 

[mccathy]

I think I'd find some other thing he's always wanted to do that he'd enjoy. I know my ds9 would love a Phillies game. At least that's sitting for the most part and even with sore feet he'd be able to watch the game as much as any other guest.

Good luck and hope all goes well with his surgery.

Thanks... I forgot we have a few minor league baseball teams we could go to a few of those games too... Maybe I should start a new thread - things to do with a wheelchair bound/normally active 5 year old!

 

[tchrrx]

I think I would wait until he is fully recovered. Maybe use the wheelchair time to plan the trip.

Do you have a local library that does special children's programs in the summer? That would give you an outing at least once a week. Plus, taking him to baseball games sounds like a good idea. You may even be able to find a museum with a children's area that he can do projects at.

Good luck! It will be a long 6-weeks for both of you, but you may discover some fun new places around your neighborhood.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Will he be needing physical therapy after? Maybe at the very end of his recovery period? At some point he'll be able to walk pain free.

Back when I first got out of college, a friend and I went to Cancun. A few weeks later she had appendicitis and had surgery. At the very end of her 6 weeks out of work, we went again for a quick trip.
Then again all we were doing was laying on the beach, not really an active trip.
Just saying, at some point people start feeling better. Ours was completely unplanned though. She just said out of the blue, "I'm feeling pretty good and still have x days to return to work. Let's go again!"

What if you have this all planned and he can't do it for whatever reason? complications, etc. That would only make him feel worse, physical pain then added guilt and disappointment.

 

[mccathy]

Will he be needing physical therapy after? Maybe at the very end of his recovery period? At some point he'll be able to walk pain free.



What if you have this all planned and he can't do it for whatever reason? complications, etc. That would only make him feel worse, physical pain then added guilt and disappointment.

That's a good point... and the more I think about local things - the more things pop up that we can do and then spend the night in the comfort of our home. We're near chicago - so there's plenty of places I can push him around to see stuff!

 

[roscoepc1]

My sister is an OR nurse ( so knows about stuff like this), and my son had surgery on both his feet with a similar recovery. It is VERY painful, and prone to swelling etc..moreso that just about ANY other surgery! (My son had over a dozen surgeries in his life, and this one was by FAR the worst, re pain/recovery....he had the pain threshhold of an elephant too, and he was in agony!)

I would not even consider a trip (esp if it included flying) with foot surgery.

What I WOULD do is plan a "got better/got through it" celebratory trip for about one month post cast-removal.

 

[irisesareblue]

I spent a summer in a cast on one foot after surgery when I was 6...I sat in the heat unable to swim, unable to ride a bike, bored out of my tree...I say go if your son's dr says it's okay. It will give him something to look forward to. Maybe he can spend some of the time post-surgery doing research about attractions and such so that he will kept amused while all his friends are outside playing. There are lots of things to do at DL, I'm sure, even in a wheelchair. As the PP suggested, check the DISabilities board - they will have plenty of suggestions.

 

[mccathy]

My sister is an OR nurse ( so knows about stuff like this), and my son had surgery on both his feet with a similar recovery. It is VERY painful, and prone to swelling etc..moreso that just about ANY other surgery! (My son had over a dozen surgeries in his life, and this one was by FAR the worst, re pain/recovery....he had the pain threshhold of an elephant too, and he was in agony!)

I would not even consider a trip (esp if it included flying) with foot surgery.

What I WOULD do is plan a "got better/got through it" celebratory trip for about one month post cast-removal.

Interesting... I wonder how bad this will be?? What type of surgery was it? Did you wish you had done one at a time? One doc. recommended that - the other recommended to get it over with!

 

[mccathy]

I spent a summer in a cast on one foot after surgery when I was 6...I sat in the heat unable to swim, unable to ride a bike, bored out of my tree...I say go if your son's dr says it's okay. It will give him something to look forward to. Maybe he can spend some of the time post-surgery doing research about attractions and such so that he will kept amused while all his friends are outside playing. There are lots of things to do at DL, I'm sure, even in a wheelchair. As the PP suggested, check the DISabilities board - they will have plenty of suggestions.

Hmmm... I'm definitely going to talk with his doctor about this! Thanks for sharing your experience. DL or not - I plan on making at least two trips a week to somewhere where I can just push him around!

 

[roscoepc1]

Interesting... I wonder how bad this will be?? What type of surgery was it? Did you wish you had done one at a time? One doc. recommended that - the other recommended to get it over with!

He had plates and pins put in to straighten the way some bones lined up...his muscles in his feet were too spastic/tight. I can't remember the technical name off-hand, but would recognize it if I heard it. I would definitely recommend getting it over with. I don't think I could have ever consented to the second! (although he NEEDED it, so there wouldn't have been a real choice....)

One thing that REALLY helped was using an epidural for pain management in hospital...the first three days are the worst (Children's Hospital's advice, both on the timing of worst pain, and on the epi), and he didn't have to feel a bit of it!

He ran into trouble with his skin breaking down around the incisions within the casting, and ended up having to have "windows" cut into them to let the air get to it...

 

[mccathy]

He had plates and pins put in to straighten the way some bones lined up...his muscles in his feet were too spastic/tight. I can't remember the technical name off-hand, but would recognize it if I heard it. I would definitely recommend getting it over with. I don't think I could have ever consented to the second! (although he NEEDED it, so there wouldn't have been a real choice....)

One thing that REALLY helped was using an epidural for pain management in hospital...the first three days are the worst (Children's Hospital's advice, both on the timing of worst pain, and on the epi), and he didn't have to feel a bit of it!

He ran into trouble with his skin breaking down around the incisions within the casting, and ended up having to have "windows" cut into them to let the air get to it...

Alright - here's the names:

sliding heel osteotomy and a lateral column lengthening with medial imbrication

Sound familiar? I don't think it will - doesn't sound like the same issue. My son has inverted ankles and flat feet because the heel isn't where it's supposed to be.

We'll be at a children's hospital, so hopefully they'll manage his pain pretty well. I have a feeling the doctor is going to say wait on the trip!