Well, it turns out my right side is still being a bit naughty and not sitting where it should be. We got told today, that I need more surgery.
This time, they have to cut my bone and re-position it, a bit.
I've been told it really hurts.
I will have to wear a brace, like this one, for at least six weeks, which means I can't have a bath for that long!
I'm going to be stinky!
We have been told it will take around 18 months for me to get back to my pre surgery physical state.
We know I need it, but mum and dad are feeling a bit sad today.
They showed us what the brace will look like, today. It made Mum cry.
This surgery is set for October.
Awful, because Dexter needs more surgery.
Awful, because he will be confined to a sitting position, for at least six weeks. Awful, because it just isn't fair.
Awful, because it will be a huge set back in Dexter's development... his strength and determination, his muscle power and his motivation. Every time he starts to demonstrate new strength, something happens, and we set him back to the beginning.
This surgery is pretty major. They will actually be cutting his bones, and re-positioning them.
This isn't going to be easy. The surgery causes severe pain, and being confined to the cast will be uncomfortable and frustrating for Dexter.
He won't be able to work on his walking, or sit to stand exercises, his kneeling or his standing. He won't be able to use his walker, his standing frame, or his bike.
We've only just gotten his leg muscles back... when these casts come off, Dexter will have super skinny 'cerebral palsy' legs.
He will lose 18 months of progress, because of the surgery... that means, he will go backwards in his sitting and standing and kneeling strength...
'18 months backwards'.
This surgery, and Dexter's setback as a result can be explained like this:
Imagine an Olympian.... they train and train. They train when they are sick, they train when they are tired. They train until they make themselves sick. They push through pain barriers, and then, they train some more.
And then, a week before their Olympic event, they have an accident, and cannot move.
Making sure Dexter has physical therapy everyday is exhausting.
Lenice does almost all of it. It's not easy, especially now Dexter is growing. He's long, and he's heavy.
On the days Dexter does well, the therapy is rewarding, and the future looks good. But, the days Dexter does badly, the future is full of looming back clouds, and its incredibly depressing and frustrating.
Knowing Dexter is about to have this major setback is gut wrenching... heartbreaking... cruel.
We knew it was coming... we knew his knee was still turning in... but hearing the confirmation...
There are no words.
We will look for the silver lining... we always have.
Sure, he needs it.
Sure, we will work on his 'looking' and his words, his self-feeding and his use of his hands...
But for today, we just need a little time to wrap sticky-tape around the pieces of our broken hearts.