A Not So Fun 4th and Tough Week for Faith

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The other day Faith and I were standing in line at the pharmacy, and someone asked her, "How was your 4th of July?" She responded quite honestly, "Terrible!"  Yes, it was definitely not a very fun 4th. In fact, this whole week has been one challenge after another. The only thing we really did for the 4th was go to Art in the Park in Mandan, which was last Friday. Faith found a new tie-dye t-shirt, and I enjoyed a yummy root beer float.  Art in the Park in Mandan on the 3rd I had actually gone with the goal of getting an Indian taco, but it was so humid, I didn't feel like eating anything hot. Because it was so warm, we only stayed for an hour before heading back to Bismarck. That night, I noticed that Faith seemed uncomfortable in her chair, almost like she was having pain. She told me she needed to get out and lie down. I thought maybe being out in the high humidity had been too much for her or that she was having muscle spasms. After she lay down for a bit...
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Making Faith's Orthotics

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This week Faith had two appointments. One of them consisted of getting her fitted for new orthotics, which by the way are also called AFOs or SMOs. The whole process took over an hour and Faith did great the whole time! She loved seeing her physical therapist again, whom she doesn't see on a regular basis anymore because she gets all of her PT at school. 

As the therapists worked hard to get the molding on her feet just right, they asked Faith what color of padding she wanted, what color she wanted for her straps, and if she wanted a picture on the back. Faith responded, "You can never have too many accessories!"

Jackie and another physical therapist work to get the molding just right for Faith's long, skinny feet.

The therapists have to repeatedly fit Faith's foot in the mold, make some adjustments and fit it again. They did this several times before finally getting it perfect.

Next, it's time for Tate from MedEquip to come and do his thing which is wrapping Faiths' leg in casting material to get the general shape of the orthotic.

Tate has to squeeze really hard to set the molding in place for Faith's foot.

It's important for Faith to be as relaxed as possible during the fitting but here she is uncomfortable because she's fighting hard against her tone.

Finally, the last step takes place as Tate cuts away the casting. He will then take the orthotics to his shop to finish putting them together.

The final product will be an orthotic with pink and purple padding, purple straps and a picture of a yellow butterfly on the back, all which Faith picked out herself. After Tate puts them together, it is a matter of seeing how they fit and then possibly making some adjustments so that they fit her as best they can. I will be sure to post a photo of what the final product looks like.

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A Not So Fun 4th and Tough Week for Faith

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Image
The other day Faith and I were standing in line at the pharmacy, and someone asked her, "How was your 4th of July?" She responded quite honestly, "Terrible!"  Yes, it was definitely not a very fun 4th. In fact, this whole week has been one challenge after another. The only thing we really did for the 4th was go to Art in the Park in Mandan, which was last Friday. Faith found a new tie-dye t-shirt, and I enjoyed a yummy root beer float.  Art in the Park in Mandan on the 3rd I had actually gone with the goal of getting an Indian taco, but it was so humid, I didn't feel like eating anything hot. Because it was so warm, we only stayed for an hour before heading back to Bismarck. That night, I noticed that Faith seemed uncomfortable in her chair, almost like she was having pain. She told me she needed to get out and lie down. I thought maybe being out in the high humidity had been too much for her or that she was having muscle spasms. After she lay down for a bit...
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