Shriner's Hospital

Our first of many visits to and with Shriner's Hospital has come and gone already. It is such an amazing hospital and the people their are absolutely wonderful. We got told that our first visit would be 3-5 hours long. We got there, checked in and 15 minutes later our buzzer went off (like what you get at The Olive Garden) and a nurse was waiting for us in the designated go to area. She took us to an exam room, talked with us for about 15 minutes and then went to get the doctor. The doctor assistant came in and talked with us and then got the doctor. We discussed everything with him and he said Koop would definitely be getting a prosthetic and that next he wanted us to meet with the physical therapists and then the prosthesis (the person who makes the prosthetic). As soon as he walked out PT walked in and examined him and showed us some exercises to do with Koop. They printed out about 20 different exercises for us to do at home.

Then they took us to the prosthesis, who actually meet us about halfway to his office and took Koop right out of our arms and sat down right there on the floor in the middle of the hallway and started to examine and play with him. Then they took us into another exam room where they took a mold of Kooper's little leg so that they could get it made that night and we were to come back the next day and see how it fit.

Getting the mold made

Getting the mold made

The next day we returned to try on the mold to see if any adjustments needed to be made. It had to be made smaller. But the guy put the mold on Kooper's leg and Rikk and he stood him up. He was soooooo proud of himself and so were we. Kooper actually stood for a whole minute where was before it was a couple seconds and then he'd go limp. But with the help of the mold and some padding to stand on, he was so happy, he was laughing and giggling and everyone there was clapping and cheering him on.

The mold of his thigh

Kooper standing in it for the first time

Koop realizing it's pretty cool

It was just an amazing experience there. We just went from person to person with no waiting in between (the guy above says to mark it on our calender because it will probably never happen again!). With the exercises the PT people gave us and showed us we have definitely been strengthening Koop's core which is what they say needs to happen. We were also told that we could video tape all of Kooper's visits to make sure that we are doing everything right and I also think it will be neat for Kooper to have. We go back next week to get his actual prosthetic and we are so excited!!!

We are fortunate to have my folks in Fairbanks to take care of the older boys while we make these trips. The boys definitely had a GREAT time with their Nana and Papa (as always) and Nana and Papa had quite a few funny stories to tell when we got home.

***Jeremy and Dahlia...we totally thought that the prosthesis could have been Jeremy's brother, if not his twin. The way he talked and his mannerisms reminded us of Jeremy.