Would you cancel your cruise......

[leidig32]

If your child was just diagnosed with scoliosis yesterday. Your cruise is May 2016. You found out that she was going to wear a back brace 23 hours a day until growth is done....so roughly 3 years. Sure this is a life change and you cannot put your life on hold but with a cruise being such a big event would you still go? She can take the brace off but the target is still 23 hours a day. The more she wears it the better her progross.....hopefully. We will not make the 23 hours since she does play sports and will take it off for that. But that is the target. Thanks for any insight you can give me.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If your child was just diagnosed with scoliosis yesterday. Your cruise is May 2016. You found out that she was going to wear a back brace 23 hours a day until growth is done....so roughly 3 years. Sure this is a life change and you cannot put your life on hold but with a cruise being such a big event would you still go? She can take the brace off but the target is still 23 hours a day. The more she wears it the better her progross.....hopefully. We will not make the 23 hours since she does play sports and will take it off for that. But that is the target. Thanks for any insight you can give me.

I wouldn't cancel. Life goes on. It may make it easier for her to wear it more, if she feels that it's not an impediment to "doing things".

 

[tobikaye]

I agree, I also would not cancel. She can still wear the brace for sleeping and non-movement activities such as dinner and shows. Right there is already 8-12 hours of a day. As she adjusts, she might only need to remove the brace for swimming or if she does anything like running on the cruise.

 

[labdogs42]

I'd go. I remember a friend of mine wearing a scoliosis brace to school back in the day and you barely even noticed it under her clothes. It should be fine to just keep your plans the way they are.

 

[wilkeliza]

I would go. There are much worse things that could happen and this is one of those life as normal situations. If it isn't going to stop her from playing sports then why would it negatively affect the family vacation. Are you just worried that she won't get the 23 hours due to pool time and such?

 

[wilma-bride]

No, I wouldn't cancel for that reason. Surely you should be teaching her that she can continue with a normal life and not let her diagnosis ruin her life?

 

[Allison]

I would not put off big events for 3 years and would not put my child in the position to feel responsible for things being put off that long.

 

[dclpluto]

Let your daughter decide

 

[ldo]

She could still get lots of wear time, with a few hours off for pool/bathing suit, then back on wearing shorts and a tee shirt.

 

[mmouse37]

Ditto all of above!!!

MJ

 

[darkwing818]

Op I'd check with your doctor, but I'm guessing your cruise plans should still be a go. There might be some restrictions/recommendations that you need to plan for. Hoping for the Best.

 

[leidig32]

Thank you everyone...this is very new to us and at the moment very over whelming!

 

[kerry1379]

I know very little about this subject so please forgive my ignorance. But why would you cancel? Are you afraid other kids might say something? I am under the impression that the only activity on the cruise that she couldn't wear the brace during would be swimming. Are you afraid she would spend so much time swimming that she wouldn't be wearing the brace enough? Personally, I think those are things that you can work out with your child. I would just be sure to have that conversation. Outline what certain restrictions may be and listen to their concerns. If need be, I would also consult your doctor. I think it can be done with a little preparation but ultimately it will come down to what y'all think is best. But I would be careful of giving the impression that you might be canceling "because of the brace." That would give your child the impression that the brace is a negative thing and that it hinders her when I imagine you want her to think of it as something that is helping her. Just my thoughts!
I imagine this is overwhelming as y'all adjust. Best of luck!

 

[PugsNotDrugs]

I don't think you should cancel. It would make your child feel like there's something wrong with them which there isn't! The kid doesn't need to be hidden for 3 years but try to be as normal as possible. Also, how old is the child? Sorry if you said but I didn't see it. If the child is of a certain age I'd ask them what they want to do. The braces they make now days are nice looking..I knew someone with a back brace that looked like an undershirt, lace and all. I say go! Don't hide out waiting for life to start.

 

[Figment_Fan]

My daughter has been through this. We put the brace in the carry-on through the airport. She still enjoyed the cruise. She took it off for swimming but kept it on most of the rest of the time. Don't cancel. Life continues and a brace is now part of it. Make it as natural as possible. Canceling only reinforces that the brace is a "problem." It's not. The brace was a part of our life. My DD had surgery in July - after making sure she could still ride Space Mountain. We are cruising again in April. She is looking forward to the Castaway Key 5K.

 

[KYDad]

Thank you everyone...this is very new to us and at the moment very over whelming!

leidig32,

I know it's not exactly the same, but I know how it is to feel overwhelmed by something like this. Our daughter, age 15, was 5 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. At first it seemed like our life as we knew it was over. However, once the newness wears off, and you start to learn more about the situation you are facing, you realize that life goes on. This is just one more thing in your life that you take care of and you just do what needs to be done.

It is now part of our, and her, life. We just deal with it.

I know it doesn't seem like that to you now, but you will wake up one day and realize that this isn't the defining thing in your life. You have other things that you have to worry about, and other things to do.

Take your cruise! Don't let this setback keep you and her from having a wonderful time.

One thing that really put things into perspective for me was seeing other families that were dealing with much worse things than I was. I looked at them, and thought, "There but for the grace of God . . . "

We were at the hospital worried sick about our little girl, but we got to take her home! Other parents weren't so fortunate.

Now, 10 years later, she has grown into a beautiful, funny, talented young woman who we get to take on her first Disney cruise in less than 2 weeks!!!

 

[Jessicavoet]

I agree with the others, I totally wouldn't cancel either. She's going to have so much fun!!

 

[MunFam]

Thank you everyone...this is very new to us and at the moment very over whelming!

I am so sorry you are feeling overwhelmed. As a parent that faced food allergies with a one year old and speech delays at two and autism at three, I can empathize the "sticker shock" you are having with the new diagnosis. Please know that you are suffering way more than your daughter is. Its in our nature as parents to try and take on that pain. You all will get through these next three years stronger than you ever imagined. Its only natural to want to freeze time and curl up in the fetal position (or want to cancel or postpone trips or question future life decisions) but once the initial shock wears off, you all will realize how normal things really still are/can be.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation and that your transition in to your new diagnosis is a smooth one.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't know what I would do, other than I would take my kidlet to a great chiropractor who does either Network Spinal Analysis or BGI, and sign up for a few months of intense care. And I would also take the kiddo to an acupuncturist and sign up for the same. Honestly I find it unbelievable that doing that brace thing still happens, at least without trying out every single alternative first, nowadays.