Spica Parent's Name:

Kathleen

Spica Baby's Name:

Elizabeth

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

14 months

Weeks In The Cast:

14

Favorite Spica Journey Memory:

Christmas morning when my daughter opened her baby doll stroller and to my families disbelief she began walking while driving the stroller. I caught a video of my mom saying how "truly amazing" it was. 

Disclaimer: please ensure walking in spica is okay with your surgeon.

Biggest Lesson Learned:

Your biggest spica fears may come, but you will conquer them. Like stomach flu with vomiting and diarrhea. And also postponed surgeries due to illness. All of the things you go through on your spica journey make you a better and far more empathetic parent.

What Do You Wish You Knew:

I wish I believed how resilient children really are. I dreaded going into the spica. I thought my daughter would be fussy and difficult to manage. Elizabeth had never been a fussy baby, she had always been a happy girl, which she continued to be in the cast.

Favorite Gear or Must Have Item:

Spica chair

Final Thoughts or Advice:

I would encourage parents to leave the house every day. Leaving the house everyday was our saving grace. Whether it be running errands to the grocery store, signing up for music classes through your local rec department, planning play dates with friends, renting new books from library or just going on a walk outside, every little bit helps to pass the time. Having other people to help out is also a godsend, neighborhood kids, friends or family, take all of the help you can get. Including having a babysitter if you think yours is qualified to care for a spica baby. I truly think this journey is sometimes tougher on the parents, and parents need to take care of themselves too.