Mod Quad

[Layne]

We are going to TCH in mid June for the Mod Quad. I am concerned about clothing after the splint is on. My son is 10 months old. He wears usually 9 -12 months clothes (he is tall and skinny).How many sizes bigger do I need to purchase shirts? Can I modify the shirts we already have (he wears a lot of button down shirts because they are easier to put on than the ones that go over the head, plus they are so cute they make him look like a little man!) Is there a way I can slit the arm hole to accomodate the splint? I really have no clue and I know that so many of you have been through this and you have great ideas. Also, Francine, since we live in AZ I looked in to those coolmax shirts that you were talking about... how much bigger should I go in those? Any ideas or tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Layne

[Francine_Litz]

If he wears 9- 12 months - I would say go to 2-4T t-shirts? I wouldn't buy too much. I definitely wouldn't spend the time altering clothes. If you feel the need to alter them, you'll have to cut open the sleeve til a little bit further than the armpit and expand the fabric and put in velcro. Too complicated for the short time he'll be in the splint.

About the cool max...(capilene)... http://www.patagonia.com (don't know if they make baby sizes - but they'll probably know where you can get it if they don't)

Just make a slit in the underarm of the shirt so you can do a wound check, and you'll cut off the sleeve of the unaffected arm. It'll get put on UNDERNEATH the splint to catch the drips so get it in the correct, if not a bit tighter, size.

-francine

[m&mmom]

We always got shirts one size bigger and did ok. I shopped the clearance rack and got some really nice shirts for about $1.50 at Target. I got Matthew some polo shirts which were nice because the buttons could be undone to allow for more room to go over the head.
Cindy

[jennyinsandiego]

here's a place where you can get clothes that wick for great prices so it doesn't hurt so much when you cut them up;)
www.sierratradingpost.com
just type wick into the search box.
jenny

[Allison]

Hi Layne,
My son was in the same size, 9-12 months. We bought size 3T cotton t-shirts. They worked great. Keep in mind they shrink so 3T was perfect, first we undid the uninjured arm, then the head, then the splinted arm, no fuss. Good luck. Mod Quad has done amazing things for my Bradley!
Allison

[admin]

My son had Mod at 14 months......we bought him 3-4T and it worked well. We lived in Texas at the time so it was hot too......I bought tank tops and that worked great. Mod Quad also did wonders for my son !!!

[Layne]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I am very nervous about going back for another surgery (I guess I had better get used to it though), but at the same time I have heard wonderful things about the mod quad and am very excited. Ian has really minimal movement except for the fact that he can shrug his shoulder. I have great hopes and I know that if anyone can help us it is TCH! Thanks again for the tips.
Layne

[cybermomx4]

I feel that Mod Quad is the surgery that changed our lives. My son had basically no use of his arm. He could not lift it very high at all. He had surgery in September and by December he could feel himself with that arm, shampoo his own hair, brush his teeth and a million other things. Remember all kids are different but my son made GREAT inprovements after MOD !!!
Gayle
mom of Brandon
ROBPI

[Layne]

Gayle, that is SO encouraging to hear. I had one of those moments today that makes you want to cry... I was clipping his fingernails and accidentally cut the nail so short on his affected thumb that it bled and he felt NOTHING. I mean, I know he has no feeling in his hand, but still, it is difficult. I am really hopeful that the mod quad can help him live a more normal life. I know there will be more surgeries to come, they are already talking about a surgery they will need to do when he is 6 or 7, and he is only 10 months old right now. I have heard great things about the mod quad and the way I look at it, we don't really have any movement now, we can only go up from here:)