A super champ

We had a stressful day, but I am not sure he did. 

The Husband met me at the orthopedist and we came fully armed, Goldfish, Smarties & a brand new Thomas the Train.  We could feel the Hedgehog's uncertainty, but he kept eating the Goldfish, and was relieved to see his physiotherapist arrive in this unfamiliar space. 

We all sat down and the Husband broke out the Smarties putting them one at a time into the toy dump truck while the Hedgehog watched with uncertainty while the orthopedist measured and marked his legs, put on a splint and then started casting his right leg.  He watched with curiosity, but kept eating the Smarties.  It was perfect.  No problems and the cast was done. 

She started on the left leg.  The Hedgehog was not happy and couldn't eat the Smarties fast enough.  He kept pointing his toes and starting to pull away.  He knew this leg was not going as well. Everyone started to get more tense.  She explained she would have to cut it off and lay him down.  This time the scalpel for cutting scared him.  The tears starting the calling for a soother and his baby, which I left at home.  The soother helped. Sort of.

I got on the medical bed, and laid him down, head in my lap and stroked his hair.  The Husband held his hand and made sure the soother didn't fall on the floor.  Leg bent, they start the casting again.  Many times he asked to go home, but he made it through without screaming, without much crying and in better shape than his parents.  He clutched the brand new Thomas the Train that had come quickly out of the bag.

The orthotics - AFO's, will cove most of his foot and leg beneath the knee.  They will need to be worn every time his foot touches the ground, no exceptions.  There are many battles ahead, but this one was a complete victory.  He understood what was going on and was a super champ.  Our boy.