Time for a helper leg!

Now that Oscar is one and standing quite well, it's time to work on the big milestone - walking.  Oscar's difference is too great for a shoe lift so we need a a special type of leg, kind of a half orthodic/half prothetic.  It will be an AFO with a hinge at the ankle to maintain what little mobility he has in his ankle.  Its been hard trying to find a prosthetist that can make this special 'helper leg'. We visited three places and were turned down by one and another one had just gotten his license and we needed a bit more experience for such a complicated prothetic.  We are going with Hanger in Tulsa and believe its the right choice for our area.  Its hard because in Oklahoma we don't have access to top notch specialist, not to say the doctors here aren't good, but they just haven't had the experience with rare cases as you would see in big cities.  I am already going to travel to Florida for Oscar's treatment, I can't travel far for a prosthetist as well especially when I will need at least 6-8 appointments a year with them.  I have to think about my family as a whole.  I'm a stay at home mom but I play a vital role in all my kids lives.  Yes, I will always do my very best for Oscar but I believe, in this case, it is to go to the best prosthetist close to us and keep any disruptions in oscar's life to a minimum.  I want him to live a normal life right now while he doesn't know he's any different than his brothers and sister.  He will need his first surgery between age 2-3 and its a very complex and long surgery so keeping life simple right now seems like the best choice for our family.  Right now I will focus on getting him his prothetic and a walker so he can learn to walk at his own pace.  I will be so happy when that happens!