Need opinions: Would you cancel?

[Praise2Him]

Here's the dilemma: Our cruise is in 4 weeks and today DD13 fell off our trampoline and broke her arm. She'll be in a cast for 2 months. We're debating whether or not to cancel. She loves to swim and I hate it that she won't be able to (already asked about the waterproof cast and it's not an option). What else will she NOT be able to do? We're on the 4 day and have no excursions planned. Will she still be able to enjoy it? Thanks for your input!
Lisa

 

[Masonpips]

When my son broke his arm this spring I was shocked at how within 2 days of having the cast on, it was if he had it on forever. So with the exception of swimming, she can probably do almost everything. If you're only 4 weeks out, don't cancel!

 

[two-foxes]

She may not be able to swim, swim. But from my experience of having a cast on every limb, there are water proof sleeves that fit over the cast to protect from splashes. With that, she could probably get waist deep in water (think goofy whirlpools, the beach at CC or Nassau.) Granted, I have no little ones, but having been one myself once with a cast for every season, I never let it stop me from having fun! Just make sure she has a ruler on hand to stick it up the cast to get a good scratch in! The heat and humidity may cause some itching at the end of the day! Oh, and lots of suncreen for her arms....the tan line could be bad!

Did you ask your daughter if she thought she could still have fun even with no swimming?

 

[Praise2Him]

Thanks for the suggestions! They sound great.

No, I haven't asked her, because it's a surprise for her birthday - we were going to tell her at Cinderella's breakfast on December 20. Now I'm thinking maybe we should go ahead and ask her, because tomorrow is the 30 day mark. I'm pretty sure she'll still want to go, though!

 

[two-foxes]

Thanks for the suggestions! They sound great.

No, I haven't asked her, because it's a surprise for her birthday - we were going to tell her at Cinderella's breakfast on December 20. Now I'm thinking maybe we should go ahead and ask her, because tomorrow is the 30 day mark. I'm pretty sure she'll still want to go, though!

OOOOH, still keep it a surprise! You obviously know her best, but how could you be unhappy with such a great present, cast or no cast!! Whatever you do, good luck! What a great gift!

 

[pediatric-rnp]

What a wonderful surprise!! I'm sure she will have a wonderful time, even if unable to swim.

A word to the wise tho, about the advice previously given to bring something such as a ruler so that she can scratch under the cast - I'm guesssing that your MD has already advised you to make sure she does not put anything under the cast to scratch. The skin tends to become a bit moist and sensitive, and can break down very easily, causing an infection. this would put a damper on her activities for sure!

Have a wonderful, wonderful time!

 

[ivanova]

I think she could still enjoy the cruise with a cast on ... I don't think trip insurance would cover cancelling for a broken arm, so why take the chance of losing money by cancelling.

 

[tvguy]

I'd go. We never found time to swim on the ship. Snorkeled on Castaway Cay, so it is very easy to keep very very very busy and not swim.

 

[my3kids]

Did the ER doctor say no to the waterproof cast? The reason I ask is our ER says no because insurance won't pay the extra $20 for the Gortex liner, but you can have it casted at the orthopedist's office and get the cast with the liner. I think the actual cast part is probably fiberglass in either case, it is the specific liner you have to ask for. So, I would call the local orthopedic surgeon and ask if it could be recasted some time before the trip.

 

[TiggerKing]

Thanks for the suggestions! They sound great.

No, I haven't asked her, because it's a surprise for her birthday - we were going to tell her at Cinderella's breakfast on December 20. Now I'm thinking maybe we should go ahead and ask her, because tomorrow is the 30 day mark. I'm pretty sure she'll still want to go, though!

Also understand that you are inside the cancellation period. I know, I am the financial person who always worries about the cost, but you would be forfeiting 50% of the cruise cost. I don't believe that an insurance company (my opinion) would accept a broken arm as a severe enough reason to stop you from going on the cruise.

As other posters have said, there will be PLENTY to keep her busy! Don't spoil the surprise, and go an have a good time. Maybe by that point in time, the doc will agree to a waterproof cast as well!

 

[CheapMom]

I say go and have a great time- and ask around about a waterproof cast. You may get a different answer from a different doctor.

 

[CM_Mom]

I agree to nix the suggestion of a ruler to scratch. However I DO have an alternative that worked pretty good for DD's various casts (yep I that's plural). Take a hairdryer that will blow AIR ONLY. Blow air up or down the cast openings. It will dry out the moisture and give relief from the itching.

I'm also with the previous poster who suggested that you recheck with your orthopedist to be sure that you can't have the arm recast with the waterproof one. That would be tons cheaper than cancelling.

She will still be able to do activities with the teen club, watch movies and the shows and the family activities on board. And she can put on her suit and lay out by the pool. If I remember correctly, that's the major part of teen "swimming" anyway. When you go to the beach I would definitely wrap the cast and be sure to put a wash rag or something like that in the openings so she doesn't get sand inside the cast. Otherwise have a ball.

I'd be really BUMMED if I thought I'd missed a CRUISE because of a cast.

 

[Praise2Him]

Thanks again for all the suggestions - they are great!

I think we will definitely go. She's always wanted to go on the DC and thinks that we're not going until her high school graduation, so it'll be a fun surprise, no matter what.

The orthopedic doctor was the one that said "no" to the waterproof cast - the reason he gave was that if it was a shorter (forearm) cast it would be okay, but since it's a full arm cast, water tends to pool around the elbow and cause skin problems. We go back in a week to have it recast and I'll definitely ask again, though.

Thanks again!
Lisa

 

[CM_Mom]

water tends to pool around the elbow and cause skin problems.

And he can't put drain holes in the cast? Oh well. I would trust your doctor to know his business.

FYI, you can ask your Stateroom Host for some of the trash bags that they use to line the trash cans to use to wrap the cast at CC. (We asked for some to isolate messy stinky sandals so they wouldn't "infect" the rest of the stuff in the bag.)

You'll have a great time no matter what.

 

[two-foxes]

A word to the wise tho, about the advice previously given to bring something such as a ruler so that she can scratch under the cast - I'm guesssing that your MD has already advised you to make sure she does not put anything under the cast to scratch. The skin tends to become a bit moist and sensitive, and can break down very easily, causing an infection. this would put a damper on her activities for sure!

Have a wonderful, wonderful time!

The things that have changed over the years...or maybe they told me not to and I still did! Good luck !

 

[athurstance]

My son had a waterproof sleeve for his broken arm. You just fit it over the cast when they are in the water. It was very easy to use and totally waterproof. You can get them in various sizes for half or full arm and leg casts. He wore his at the water park when we were on holiday - he would have been devastated if he couldn't go near water all that time.
We're in the UK but I'm sure they are available in the US aswell - usually we are well behind in that kind of thing. I ordered mine by mail - the hospital gave me the details.
Having been in the same position I would say go ahead and have your vacation. My son barely noticed he had a cast on once we set off and had a great time.

Angela

 

[jlac762]

She'll be in a cast for 2 months. We're debating whether or not to cancel. She loves to swim and I hate it that she won't be able to (already asked about the waterproof cast and it's not an option).


My daughter broke her arm very badly this summer (2mos in a cast, above the elbow, 8 weeks PT) A week after it happened we were at Cape Cod. A friend gave us some of the long plastic gloves he has for cleaning his very large salt water tank. This went well above her cast and we taped it above the cast. She was not allowed to swim, but it lessened our worry about the cast getting wet at the beach and sand getting in her cast. I say go for it and good luck!

 

[TootyJane]

I say go ahead and go on your cruise. Your dd will adapt to the cast rather quickly. My youngest ds broke his elbow two summers ago. He loves the water and I relate to what your dd will go through if she loves water as much as my ds! However, we did put a plastic bag over the cast so he could at least go in waist deep -- we live by the beach. The biggest concern was not so much the water but getting sand into the cast. I also nix the idea of taking a ruler to scratch. Doctor suggested to ds when his arm felt itchy to take something and tape the cast in the area of the itch. Surprise -- it did work and itch was gone in a matter of moments. HTH

 

[christinou]

My daughter also broker her arm this summer, she had a full arm cast all the way to her shoulder, we bought her a sleeve to go over the cast, and it worked great, she did swim all summer, and barely noticed the cast after a few days. Just go.......

 

[Miss Jasmine]

You can order Waterproof cast covers online. Here is one example:
http://www.healthfancy.com/castcovers.asp