My Strong Little Journey: Erin and Jackson- Club Foot
Hello there. If this is your first time visiting My Strong Little Body, welcome! My name is Alana and I am a paediatric physiotherapist from Australia. My latest project is this: My Strong Little Journey.
I’ve asked real Mums and Dads, with real experiences of paediatric physiotherapy to share their story with me (and you); to let their guard down, and tell it how it really is on the other side of the fence. What it feels like to be the “parent of the patient”.
Sometimes the journey will be nice and smooth and simple and all the loose ends can get tied off nicely. There is a beginning and an end. A cure even.
But more often than not, having a child with a health condition can be really complex and messy. It’s a long, winding road. It can be tough on families. I’ve asked these parents to tell their story how they would’ve liked to have told their own friends and family. What they would have liked to hear themselves in the early days.
What I do know is this; these stories, no matter how small, are going to be incredibly helpful and reassuring for Mums and Dads going through similar experiences themselves, and I am sure they will also be really valuable for therapists too. Giving us the opportunity to walk in their shoes, even if just for a moment, is a wonderful gift these parents are giving.
So thank you for sharing your story today Erin.
LET’S HEAR ABOUT HER Son Jackson’s STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY AND HER FAMILY’S EXPERIENCE WITH Club Foot.
Jackson developed ‘club foot’ or ‘talipes equino-varus’ of the right foot in-utero.
My name is Erin & I live in Glenmore Park NSW with my husband Sean and our three gorgeous children Jonathan (4), Michaela (3) and Jackson (1). Three children under 3.5 creates a world of beautiful chaos & I am forever grateful for the support & help we have had from our parents especially with the journey Jackson has taken us on.
At our 19 week scan we found out our baby had unilateral talipes (clubfoot), my pregnancy bubble definitely burst that day, as a parent finding out any little thing could possibly be wrong with your baby is devastating.
Initially we were in shock, we didn’t even ask what clubfoot was but ferociously googled it while waiting to be seen by the doctor. It isn’t as my mum initially thought when I told her through tears, a leg in the shape of a club, but infact the foot is twisted inwards and downwards with the toes pointing to the opposite leg. It actually affects 1 in 1000 babies & once you mention it you’d be surprised the amount of people who have had it or know someone who has.
Clubfoot is often linked to chromosomal abnormalities and other serious health issues, the Doctor assured us that there were no indicators of anything else & she was highly certain it was isolated to just the foot but until bub was born nothing was a given. We had kept the sex of our other babies a surprise & had planned on doing so with this baby but we decided we wanted some good news and so we discovered I was carrying a gorgeous baby boy who we would give my mum’s maiden name & his middle name my dad’s.
A part of me wishes I never found out at my scan, but instead when he was born, as clubfoot itself is easily treated. I would have avoided months of worry over what other issues he may have & fear of the unknown.
On the other hand finding out early meant I was prepared and well educated in what his treatment would involve. I had a prenatal appointment with the Doctor who would treat him and I found support from other parents through the wonderful Facebook group “Aussie Clubfoot Kids”.
After what felt like an eternity in January 2019 Jackson Mark arrived safe & sound. I can’t even recall how many times I asked “Is he ok”, and as Dr. Ponseti, the pioneer behind the method that would treat Jackson’s foot has said:
Your child is perfect we only have to straighten his little feet.
Jackson having his foot cast with the Ponsetti method.
We soaked in our newborn bubble and took numerous photos of his curly little foot. At 3 weeks old we started the journey to straighten Jackson’s foot with his first cast. He was such a strong, brave little boy & took it like a champ, he even fell asleep through the casting to the sound of an Ocean Drum & thanks to his baby whisperer Physio Tony, who can calm any baby and put them to sleep in no time. He received a new cast every Wednesday for 5 weeks, each cast gradually bringing his foot outwards to a normal position. I have to say I was amazed at the progress after his first cast alone.
During casting he could only be sponge bathed at home however when his cast was removed there would be a warm bath all ready for him & once a week he could have a proper bath, they never rushed us & let us take our time & enjoy this moment with him. Our Pyhsio Tony, Steph who was learning under him & the Assistant Lynn were such bright, happy people who instantly put us at ease & made the process so much less stressful than it could have been.
After his 5th cast, at 9 weeks old, we were advised he would undergo a tenotomy procedure the next week under a local anesthetic at the Children’s hospital. I was a basket of nerves and emotions but I will never forget the relief I felt when Tony’s smiling face popped up in the waiting room window with our baby in his arms.
After this procedure he was casted again, this cast was meant to stay on for 3 weeks straight. However Tony was not happy with the degree achieved by the tenotomy & so Jackson was casted weekly to try & increase this. After 3 weeks Jackson graduated to the boots & bars (bracing) phase. For the initial 3 months he had to wear these for 23hours a day, that one free hour would fly by with a bath, some boot free snuggles & a little kick. The first 24hrs adjusting to the boots was horrific, he screamed the house down and nothing would settle him, the next day we returned to get him a smaller pair of boots & he settled in much easier.
3 months later after visiting the Dr for a review Jackson graduated to 12-14 hour (overnight) wear until he is 5, his piggies were free & I could smother him in cuddles without a bar getting in my way & bruising my legs. We are now down to 6 monthly check ups to make sure his foot is on track as a relapse is always a possibility at any stage.
Just shy of 15months Jackson took his first steps, earlier than his non-clubfoot older siblings. Every tear shed, every appointment, every cast, every sleepless night, every bruise, all the worry, all the stress, it had all been worth it for these first gorgeous steps & all the ones to come.
That first year of treatment was the most beautiful, emotional, exhausting, chaotically perfect year of my life. His journey made me dig deep and find a strength I never new I had, he inspires me and shows me what true strength and resilience is daily, I am so grateful to be his Mum & count my blessings every day he chose us.
NOTE FROM ALANA
I want to extend my thanks once again to to Erin, for opening up and telling us her story of being Mum to Jackson. I hope with all my heart it resonates and is helpful to other Mums and Dads going through a similar experience.
Also - how incredible is the Ponsetti method? I was so happy Erin managed to get those comparison photos of the change in Jackson’s foot after each cast. For those of you going through the casting period right now- please know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This story is proof of that. Look at that little superstar ditching his (daytime) boots at the end there.
Do you have a story you would like to share? Please get in touch. I would so love to hear from you.