Maia is 6 weeks into her splint....
We started out by preparing the school - teachers - classmates and all the student at the school (small school - only 170 kids). Maia brought in her mod quad splint (she just had capsulodesis) - and I wrote a book about it and read it to her class. (I actually have the book online on her site if you want to read it
http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/capsulodesis.html)
It sounds like your daughter is older than Maia (maia is 3 1/2) so obviously Maia's book would probably be a bit too elementary.
But I brought the splint in and explained to them why Maia's arm was going to be up and then every kid in her class tried it on. I also sent a letter home to each parent to tell them what was happening and asking them to talk to their children about it so that Maia would be welcomed when she returned following her surgery. I also asked them to pray for her and to light a candle for her. Asking them to take part in this really helped I believe. A good lesson of compassion for kids.
Maia's first day back was just for an hour to go to a school party and I stayed with her. It went well - all the kids were so pleased to see her and were excited to check out her new splint and the sparkles we put on it.
Her first full day back at school, her OT joined her for 3 hours to help her figure out how to maneuver around the school - the two stories of steps - the playground and how to things one handed. We brought shelf liner to school so that she could do paper tasks without the paper slipping or without the bowl or object slipping - that was very helpful. Basically the OT taught the teachers what kind of support Maia would need as she was now completely one-handed. Even how to put her coat on and take it off, etc. It was raining that day so they couldn't do the playground but she came back on the first sunny day to help Maia navigate the playground and found that she could do the slide and go up the stairs as normal which was great for Maia.
I have pictures of the splint on Maia's page
http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/homepage.html
- I have good information about it too.
Clothes will need to be about 2 sizes larger most probably. We just buy bigger shirts, sweaters, etc. Maia is now size 6 but she is wearing size 10 to handle the splint. If you don't want to spend a lot of money - thrift stores are good places to get a bunch of larger clothes. She'll be wearing them again in a couple of years!
Samson Preston catalog - or you can just ask your OT to order it - has a blow up shampoo bath. We didn't end up getting it but it looks very useful especially for long hair. We cut Maia's hair really short for this surgery to make it easier. (Not saying you should though).
Many people do their children's hair in the sink or over the bathtub but I am really anal over not getting Maia's incisions wet in the slightest bit because she is prone to getting infected. So I didn't want to take any chances with that...and the position of our sink doesn't work out to lay her on the counter and do her that way. For the first 5 weeks, I just laid her on my dining table on a thick blanket and piled towels under her head and washed her with a washcloth. I kept a big bucket of hot water and used the slightest amount of shampoo so I didn't have a whole bunch of suds and I did this daily. And then we had our OT make her another splint to be used for bathing in the bathtub and that works out fine. I have info about that on that same capsulodesis page.
So for long hair, if you don't have access to being able to bend over the bathtub or into a sink - I'd get that blow up shampoo bin.
These splints take a LOT of commitment. The only way to get through it is to think positive. Someone suggested that we get a calendar and mark off the days and then at the end of the week give a gift or something nice to celebrate the end of another week.
Also - get some tight fitting undershirts in case your daughter gets skin breakdown from the splint. If she's prone to rashes or eczema she will need something to protect her skin from the foam. Keep some powder around to help with sweat and/or keep some Eucerin or other kind of good moisturizer around to help her skin out. If Maia wears a short sleeve t-shirt under her splint (we have long sleeve ones too) then I either use a cotton sleeve (forgot the name - they use it when they make a splint) or I wrap it in soft gauze so that there's some kind of layer between her skin and the straps.
We decorate Maia's splint with sparkle glue. I know that Tina did iron ons and such. Stuff like this can make a difference.
hope this is helpful,
it's hard but it's not forever,
keep on asking questions ok?
I have a good page on line about What To Expect On The Day of Surgery - I think it's in the TCH section. Check that one out too.
And show your daughter pictures of the hospital too... It's all brand new!
God Bless,
-francine
) He has not had one ounce of trouble going to school with the brace. The teacher asked the kids who would like to volunteer to be his buddy on a rotating basis...they all raised their hands so she rotates them through sitting next to him to help where he needs help. She told me that he doesnt really ask for any help. I know from my own experience with him that that would be the case. He is very nonchalant about the lack of use in his arm and has always been determined to get things done on his own. Not out of embarassment but because if he can do it why shouldnt he. He gets his coat on and off by himself and holds his paper still with his chin. He went back the week following his surgery. I drove him and picked him up the first week and after that he rode the bus with no problems at all. His brace for the capsulodisis is out to the side but for the mod quad it will probably be more up in the air. He's been wearing shirts a few sizes larger and all his pants that I have for him to wear while he's in the brace either have velcro or draw string closures and I bought him the new slip on sneakers that are becoming popular lately. It's all worked out just fine. God bless.