United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Was just wondering about car seats for our trip to TCH. Kyle is 4 years old and about 37 pounds. Should I bring a car seat/booster seat for the trip. The lady at Southwest that helped us get our tickets said not to worry about it for the plane, but what about for the ride to and from the airport. Any input? I'm flying by myself so trying to avoid as much extra baggage as possible. Will probably be taking a taxi from the airport to the hotel. Thanks for any advice you can give me. Oh Also, after surgery did you all just stop completely with private therapy until the splint comes off. I know we have to do rom exercises but did you continue going to therapy or wait until after the first 8 weeks is up? Thanks again for any input.
Karrie & Kyle

Karrie,
I can understand your desire to limit your amount of carrie on luggage! As a car seat educator I would encourage you to use a car seat with your son. On a previous post Called ModQuad Continued I relayed a ton of info about the type of seat I would recommend. What type of seat are you normally using? It is recommened that kids use car seats/boosters until they are 8 years or 8 lbs. This is because the Adult seats don't fit correctly until they are about this age and size. So my advice is to take the car seat!
If I can help you in any other way pertaining to car seats... feel free to e-mail me...
krogers@saintmail.net

Hi, Karrie. I too would have to say I would recommend bringing the car / booster seat. I know Kyle is close to only needing the booster, but I wouldn't take the risk. Do you have a luggage cart with wheels or can you borrow one from someone to make things easier? I would use the seat on the airplane too, not just in the taxi. Also, when you get to the hotel (or at some point before you go to the hospital), you can have the hotel check the car seat and hold it for you. That way you don't have to lug it to TCH.

Regarding therapy, we stopped the hospital-based (and of course, the pool -haha) therapy. However, we just temporarily decreased the frequency of the EI therapy. I thought it might be good to have the PT come over in case Nicole had any difficulties with walking / balancing the splint. Well, it's good that she came b/c she saw some leg issues that I missed. After Nicole's Mod Quad, we were able to do some PROM so the therapist also did some of that and did a little massage too. I also thought it would be good to reduce the time lag that Nicole would not see her therapists. I felt it would help her feel that the therapists look at her whole self, not just he arm. Does that make sense? Anyway, it was just a few visits during the splint time, but I feel it was well worth it. Take care. -Tina

Karrie - I would also say that bringing the car seat is important. We brought it the first two times and this last time we actually forgot it in my car, much to my chagrin. Maia was not as comfortable in the airplane and we were very worried in the taxi - we basically sat on each side of her and tried to hold her 'in' between us`.

For a tip you can get a porter to help you with your stuff to the taxi. Then the taxi man will put your stuff in and out of the taxi, and then the hotel bus boy will help bring your stuff in.


If you are not going back to the hotel during and after the surgery - then you can leave your excess baggage with the hotel - they can usually store it for you, or once you get to TCH, they can store it for you - we stored our stuff behind the surgical receptionist desk - as did many other people.

Maybe there is a way to add a shoulder strap to the car seat to make it more carryable or rig something up that would meet that purpose?

The one thing I will suggest to you is that you bring an extra carry bag with you - like a thin one that can just fold up and sit inside the pocket of another one.... maybe it was just because of the holidays, but each time we go there for surgery Maia ends up with so many stuffed animals and stuff.... I bought a bag at TCH this time and I'll know better for next time. hehe

How is your stress level? Can you do something daily for yourself to de-stress a bit? There's nothing like pre-surgery stress - my whole body is still locked up from Maia's surgery.

Well - hope you have a nice weekend,
francine