Spica Parent's Name:

Sarah & Rob

Spica Baby's Name:

Braden
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Spica Baby's Age When He or She Was First Casted:

10w & 10m
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Weeks In The Cast:

10
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Favorite Spica Journey Memory:

Braden is still in a spica cast until October, however our favorite memory so far was when he rolled over himself in the full spica.
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Biggest Lesson Learned:

Research, talk to other parents, trust your surgeon as much as you do your family, ask questions, and then give up control, have faith, & love your little one through it.
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What Do You Wish You Knew:

I wish I would have known how resilient and strong my son was.  Those first days when you learn your baby will need surgery and a body cast are scary. I also wish I had known that Huggies fit better into a cast than Pampers, at least for us!
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Favorite Gear or Must Have Item:

*mole skin petals covered in BlendDerm
*duct tape
*stick-proof scissors
*a good flashlight
*Duo Derm and Tagaderm foam for pressure points
*lots of towels and small, thin pillows
*spica table is a must! 
*Seventh Generation wipes
*spatula or tongue depressors
*plastic bin organizer. 
*hairdryer
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Final Thoughts or Advice:

Watching your little one deal with DDH can be a roller coaster of emotions.  The diagnosis, harnesses and braces, surgeries, anesthesia, x-rays and MRIs, the appointments, questions, frustrations, sleepless nights, worries about skin, pain management and medication, wondering if there will be more surgeries in the future, finding childcare, and equipment, watching other babies meet milestones, and then of course this cast.  It can be overwhelming & frightening at times. 

But then your child amazes you. They roll over, crawl, or even walk in a cast!  Throw out the milestone charts & get rid of the apps that tell you where your baby "should be" at this point, because your child will overcome obstacles much earlier than most others.  And when your child is out of that cast, the first time they crawl or walk will be even sweeter, even more special than you could ever have imagined.   

Find comfort and support in the online DDH communities, find parents local to you and make connections, let your family, friends and coworkers help.  You'll be amazed by the amount of people who love and care for you and your little one.   

Have faith. You and your child are much stronger than you realize.