The End Result

So the end result of this whole ordeal with me was that I spent a few weeks in a Spika cast until I developed a bleeding rash on my back. Then the cast was removed and the rash was treated . A single leg cast was placed on my leg until my leg was healed enough so that I could walk. My Daddy told me that I was a super hero and he demanded that I get up and walk very shortly after I got my cast off. Three days after I got my cast off, I decided to get up and start walking because my daddy said I could do it.

The time money and effort that was involved in this whole thing was ridiculous and I want all the Mommy's and Daddy's out there to be aware that the state of Massachusetts and the licensing board in Massachusetts does not care who they license and the licensing process is very simple.

The story I just recently posted is testimony to that. The daycare I went to was sued but continued to accept new students a day after I broke my leg in their care. The state did an investigation and found countless things wrong with the way this situation was handled. They still suffered no consequences other than having to have their insurance company pay out a small fee to my parents.

Lawyers and insurance companies don't care about the emotional aspects of what I went through or what my parents went through. The only thing that mattered is that there is only a small % chance that my leg will grow in the wrong way or that I would see any adverse effects on my ability to do sports or live life to the fullest. No one will account for the endless nights of screaming, no one will account for all the pain I was in, no one will account for the time I lost sitting on the floor in a full body cast.

Just be aware that when you put your baby boy or girl into a daycare make sure you check the licensing board in your town and ask if there have been any incidents in the past and what the nature of those incidents were.

Ask to see the documentation showing that everyone working at the daycare is licensed and that there has been a background check on everyone. Are they all CPR certified? Have they provided references? Is the facility up to code? When was the last time someone from the state came and checked all these items?

Check out this latest news story

sorry I have not updated my blog in a while but I thought this article was extremely pertinent.:

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/92370079.html

I am Iron Man ( at least thats what my Mommy and Daddy told me)

So where did I leave off? ohh yeah so after all the :hugs and kisses" that I received after breaking my femur at daycare. Yes they really wrote that on the incident report at the daycare. they administered hugs and kisses. Never did they think to call 911. I mean the fracture could have ruptured my artery in my leg and i could have been slowly bleeding to death but hugs and kisses seemed like the right thing to do at the time for this particular daycare.

I went three hours from the time I fell until the time I reached a hospital without any pain medication.  I am Iron Man!

So after I finally got situated at the big hospital, I was treated like a king. Like a King accruing 30K in medical bills but I had tv and all the videos I could watch while they prepared me for the spika cast. You see I had a spiral fracture of my femur:

A spiral fracture (a.k.a. torsion fracture) is a bone fracture occurring when torque is applied along the axis of a bone.^[1] While torsional forces are being applied along the parallel axis of a bone, planes perpendicular to this axis are not affected. Tension is exerted upon one part of the bone, while compressive forces are exerted upon the other. When these forces have exceeded the limit tolerable by the bone, fracture occurs.^[1]





 The doctor's told my Daddy and Mommy that I was too small to insert any pins or screws and that I would have to put in a spika cast. the picture above represents a spiral fracture but mine ran from my hip to my knee. 4 adults were outside watching approximately 6 children in broad daylight in an area no bigger than 30 square yards approximately and I was allowed to climb up on a structure alone and unattended at 2 years old. My Mommy and Daddy hold my hand whenever I climb on anything around the house or out in the yard. What does your Mommy and Daddy do when you are climbing?

Mine was Iron Man red but you get the point. Here is some of the great things that I got to look forward to as a result of having








GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is a hip spica cast? A hip spica cast, also called spica cast or body cast, is a shaped piece of plaster or fiberglass. It may be used if your child has a broken bone in his pelvis, hip, or thigh. It is put on your child to keep his hips and legs from moving. This is done so that bones or tendons can heal correctly after an injury or surgery. The spica cast is usually put on in surgery while your child is sleeping. Most spica casts will not allow your child to stand, walk, or bear any weight.
What type of hip spica cast does my child need? There are several types of hip spica casts. One starts at the chest and goes down to one or both of your child's legs and toes. Another is applied from the chest to the foot on one leg and to the knee of the other. A spica cast that covers the chest down to the thighs or knees may also be placed. A rod may be placed between both legs to keep the hips and legs from moving. Your child's caregiver will choose which type is best for your child.

What are the risks of wearing a hip spica cast? Your child may have any of the following:

• Allergic reaction: Your child may have an allergic reaction to the cast and his skin may be itchy, swollen, and red.
  
  
• Burns: There is heat produced while the cast is hardening. Your child's skin may have burns and he may have pain and redness.
  
  
• Compartment syndrome: Compartment syndrome is a condition when the blood flow in your child's leg or thigh is blocked by swelling. When there is swelling, your child's cast may feel very tight because there is not enough room inside it. He may have severe pain, weakness, or numbness in his leg. He may have this condition if the pain does not go away even after using pain medicine, raising the leg, or putting ice on it.
  
  
• Infection: Your child may get an infection if the spica cast is not kept clean. He may also get an infection if wounds and sores are not cared for correctly. There may be pain, redness, and swelling, and you child may also have a fever.
  
  
• Joint stiffness: Your child's joints may become stiff. He may have trouble moving after being kept still for a long time. Your caregiver may help your child with exercises to improve his movement.
  
  
• Muscle atrophy: This is a condition where your child's muscles get smaller after not being used for a long time. Ask your caregiver about ways to strengthen and increase the size of your child's muscles.
  
  
• Skin sores: Your child may have blisters, sores, or wounds if the spica cast is too tight. He may also have wounds if the skin under the cast is scratched, or if he stays in one position for too long.

What problems should I watch out for when caring for my child? Check on your child often and watch for these problems. If you see any of them, get help from caregivers as soon as possible. Watch out for the following:

• Changes in skin appearance: Your child's skin should have a pinkish color and feel warm to touch. Check for sores, blisters, or breaks on the skin around the edges of the spica cast.
  
  
• Changes in skin sensation (feeling): Ask your child if he feels pain, itchiness, numbness, or burning. Ask if there is less feeling in his legs, or if he feels his legs are weak.
  
  
• Decreased urination and bowel movements: Check if your child is urinating regularly and having bowel movements every day. Call your caregiver if he is not having regular bowel movements, is unable to urinate, or is having other problems.
  
  
• Infection: You may smell a strange odor, or see stains or discharge coming from the cast. Your child may also have a fever and increased pain in some areas.
  
  
• Swelling: There should be very little or no swelling of your child's legs or feet. Make sure there is an even amount of space between your child's skin and the openings of the cast. Ask your child if his cast feels tighter than usual.

How might my child feel while he is in a hip spica cast? Your child will need to depend on someone for most of his care while he is in a hip spica cast. He may get bored because he may be missing school or his friends. He may feel sad because of how he looks, and because he misses activities while in the cast. He may also feel sad because he is not able to do the things he usually can, such as riding a bike.
What can my child do while in a hip spica cast? To decrease your child's boredom and keep him active, he may do the following:

• He may exercise by himself or together with his family or friends. Your child's caregiver may teach special exercises that he can do while in the cast. You may help him exercise by moving his legs and feet. Ask your caregiver which exercises are best for your child.
  
  
• He may read books, play board or video games, listen to music, or watch TV. He may do this with his family or friends.
  
  
• He should try to do as much as he can for himself, such as feeding and cleaning himself up. He may also clean the spica cast by himself. Ask him to tell you about any changes he sees or feels while he is in a spica cast. Doing things for himself will help him feel better and may also keep him from getting bored.
  
  
• If he is already going to school, he may study from home while in a spica cast. Call your child's teachers to give them time to plan for home study and other activities as soon as possible.

How do I care for the hip spica cast while it hardens? Your child's hip spica cast may take up to 48 hours to dry and harden completely. It needs to harden completely to be very strong and hold your child's hips and legs steady. You may do any of the following:

• Do not bend it, lean on it, or hit it with anything until it completely hardens.
  
  
• When moving your child, use the palms of your hands to hold the spica cast. Your fingertips may leave little dimples on the spica cast if it is not hard enough.
  
  
• Change your child's position every two hours to help the cast dry faster. You may let him lean on his side from time to time.

How do I protect the hip spica cast from damage? To prevent damage to the hip spica cast you may do any of the following:

• Check for any cracks, dents, dimples, holes, or flaking areas on the cast every day.
  
  
• Do not break off rough edges or trim the cast. Ask your caregiver if you think this needs to be done.
  
  
• Do not let your child push down or lean on any part of the cast because it may break.
  
  
• Make sure that the cast is kept clean and dry.

How do I keep the hip spica cast clean and dry? It is important to keep the hip spica cast clean and dry to prevent it from getting soft and weak. It may be unable to hold your child's hips or legs steady if it breaks or goes out of shape. If this happens, your child's hips or legs may not heal very well. You may do any of the following:

• Cover the cast with a towel, large T-shirt, or bib when your child is eating. This will help prevent food and drinks from spilling on or into the cast.
  
  
• Protect the cast with towels or plastic trash bags during your child's bath. Wash all of his skin not covered by the cast with soap and water every day. Some types of casts are able to get wet or even soak in water. Ask your caregiver for more information about these casts.
  
  
• You may use a hair dryer set on the lowest heat setting to dry a cast that gets wet. This may dry the spica cast faster than just letting it dry by itself. Make sure that the hair dryer is not blowing air that is too hot or you may burn your child.
  
  
• You may use a mild detergent and a washcloth to wipe dirt and grime off the spica cast.

How do I care for the edges of the hip spica cast? You or your child's caregiver may fix the cast edges to keep them smooth. This prevents your child from scraping against any rough edges of openings on the cast. You may do the following:

• Cut pieces of waterproof tape about four inches long.
  
  
• Place one end of the tape under the inside edge of the cast and wrap it onto the cast's outside surface.
  
  
• Overlap the tape strips until the edges of an opening on the cast are completely covered.
  
  
• Cover the genital or diaper area opening completely. Your child may have skin problems, and the cast may smell badly if this area is not completely waterproofed with tape.
  
  
• Do not pull or rearrange any of the padding inside the cast. This could cause blisters and wounds to your child.

What is windowing? Windowing is when your child's caregiver cuts away a small piece from the cast. Your child's caregiver uses this opening to check and care for incisions (cuts) from surgery, or other wounds. The piece that was cut out looks like a small window and can be placed back to close the opening. The piece is taped securely in place. This will keep dirt from going through the cracks at the sides of the opening. Closing the window tightly will also prevent the skin under it from swelling.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.
Copyright © 2009. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

My Mommy and Daddy told me that I had to wear a special cast that was made for superheros so that I would get all better. The super hero cast was doing super power things to my leg while I laid there imobile on a huge 5 foot wide bean bag chair that my grandpa bought for me. I had visitors everyday and I told everyone that I got my cast from Iron Man.  I even got my own special super powered chair to get me around on those 90 degree days when all my friends were coming by to see me:




My Mommy and Daddy hired a registered nurse to care for me during the day while they worked. I was so lucky because my nurse was so great and she treated me like her own child. she played with me all day long and did the best she could to keep me clean, cool, and having fun.

However, I don't think even Iron Man would have been able to deal with one of the worst feared issues of having a spica cast...

I got a Spiral Fracture of My Femur at Daycare . Hugs and Kisses?

Date: 6/25/2010

Age 2years 8 months
DOB: 9/18/07
Weight 30 pounds

June 8th, 2010

At approximately 9:35am it was recorded on an incident Report" that I jumped off a playground structure also know as a waverunner that is approximately 2.5 feet high and landed on bark mulch. My Mommy was called @30 minutes after this happened. 

Noone called an ambulance!The incident report reads that "hugs and kisses" were administered to me as proper medical care as well as ice being applied. My Mommy called my Daddy moments after receiving the call from my Daycare Center. They told my Mommy I was calm cool and collected. The man at my daycare center explained to my Mommy that I hurt himself but I was okay and calm.

My Daddy arrived @10:45 am and found me sitting upright on one of the teacher's lasp with my leg dangling off a daycare center worker . My leg was ridiculously swollen and discolored and yet my leg was not stabilized, no ambulance was called and there was not one single emergency procedure followed to make sure my son that I was okay. I was pretty far from  from "okay". The daycare center man failed to tell my Mommy that I was  shaking, swollen, white as a ghost and crying uncontrollably while again dangling off some woman's lap.

At @11:00 after having the "incident Report" shoved in my Daddy's face, My Daddy picked me up and carried me out the door. They tried not to let my Daddy leave until he signed the incident report that he was told he had to sign. I was  crying,  scared , in pain and very swollen. 

My Daddy had no other choice but to put me in my car seat. Luckily we only had to travel a mile down the road to my pediatrician. My Daddy had no way of stabilizing while transporting me safely to the closest place he could think of . He was so worried about me. so He took me down the street to the pediatrician.  My doctor had me taken by ambulance within 15 minutes to the hospital.  I arrived at at the Hospital at close to 12:00 noon where I saw my Mommy who was hysterically crying.
  

The emergency room doctor's had finally started an IV and given mepain medication by around 12:30. At best case scenario it had been 3 hours since I had "jumped" and then finally got any professional medical attention that at the very least eased his pain. My pain could not be managed by the morphine alone and so Catamine was administered to calm me down down to the point where it would be possible to splint my leg.

Insert Picture

A splint was then put on my  leg to hold his bone in place temporarily. I was given multiple pain medications and then finally an ambulance came from Umass Memorial in Worcester to take me there. My injury was too traumatic for the local hospital to manage. My daycare center provided hugs and kisses, never called an ambulance and now I'm being rushed to the best hospital for my serious injury.

The small hospital knew that this matter was beyond the scope of their expertise. My  Daddy followed the ambulance and my Mommy rode with me in the ambulance. Iwas very well handled when he got to Umass in Wocester. Unfortunately, the orthopedic doctor who came into the ER after seeing the Xrays saw that my leg was not splinted properly at the smaller local hospital. The doctor at the big hospital said to my Mommy and Daddy,"" It's amazing what type of care you get at other facilities and we run into this problem all the time." 

Therefor the doctor had to reset my leg after first taking the splint off.  It really hurt when they had to reset my leg.

I was medicated but reacted strongly by squeezing my Daddy's hand as hard as I could when my bone was repositioned and my leg was re-splinted. I remained in the hospital Tuesday evening under constant supervision and excellent pediatric care in the ER.

My Mommy stayed with him over night and he was awakened repeatedly by intense muscle spasms which then needed to be addressed with both morphine and valium. Even my Mommy's hugs and kisses were not enough to keep me asleep after my long day.

I can't wait to watch some more cartoons later and then go to sleep with my best friend Ellie the elephant. tomorrow I'll tell you what happened next!