Uncasting Mel

Yesterday was the most anticipated day... Mel had been with her cast for four long weeks and her arm needed to breathe again. It was her third visit to the orthopedist office and once we checked in, she remembered and started crying. She felt most calm on daddy's lap with binky in mouth. Then her name was called. Syd was so excited to go see what this doctor's visit was going to be all about.

Another Xray for Mel... more crying (and I overheard techs and nurses recalling her screams from the two visits before).

Then the "ok" from the orthopedist... Mel cried as long as he was in the room. Then the ortho tech returned... more crying. I told Syd to cover her ears and I sat with her, ready to snap photos. Mel was on daddy's lap, trying to wriggle free. Suddenly the saw turned on and Mel was horrified! Steve held her tight and all I could do was take one photo -- the fear on Mel's face was not something I wanted to remember. I wanted this cast off as much as I wanted to jump up and turn the saw off so she could feel safe again. It must have taken nearly 30 seconds and the cast was off, but the anguish made it seem to take 30 minutes.


The cast was off, the saw was off, Mel's arm was free and moving... and then she cried even more when she visualized her uncasted arm. She cried all the way to the car.


After a celebratory dinner at Red Robin we came home and she started re-using her right arm slowly but surely. Syd was so happy for Mel that she gave her sister her trademark hug (which at times looks so much more rough than tender). And they played in the backyard, with Mel finding all her toys more fun with two arms.