The sixth Mehta cast looks to be our last. Dr. Pete has tried hard, but due to the location of the curve in Harrison’s spine, we have reached a point where we are no longer gaining correction from casting.

Are we bummed? Yes.

It’s not exactly raising a white flag, but at the same time, it is.

Are we still happy we pursued Mehta casting? Yes! Pursuing Mehta casting was not an easy decision, and we knew the possibility of curing his scoliosis was slim. Despite this, we were able to achieve some correction, which alone is a miracle in some eyes. So from our perspective, we are thankful for the correction we achieved, and come away, closing this chapter with incredible positives and the reminder that we need to always hold onto optimism in the face of adversity.

During this latest visit to Shriners Childrens, we were able to squeeze in a visit with Dr. Hyer early in the morning before the Mehta cast. To say it impressed her with his progress would be an understatement! It genuinely surprised her to see him standing. Her primary remark after witnessing Harrison’s progress was that he continues to defy the odds and genuinely thinks he will walk within the next 6-12 months! 

If Harrison has taught us anything, it’s to roll with the punches and that he will always surpass our expectations. We may revisit Mehta casting in the future (you can never say never) but today they measured him for a back brace (TLSO) which we will pick up in a month when we remove this final Mehta cast. The new brace will help hold the curve and hopefully even encourage more correction while giving Harrison a bit more freedom, including no longer needing to be sedated for a new cast every 6 weeks.

As a bookend to not only this visit but also this Mehta casting chapter, Harrison gave a lasting impression, causing a bit of a ruckus during this last surgery with Dr. Pete. Our punky little boy (who everyone coos over and talks about how sweet he is) not only peed on Dr. Pete but also bit one of the nurse anesthetists.

Leave it to Harrison to make sure things are memorable for all on his last cast.

Cast number 13 proved to be equal parts lucky and unlucky. We are excited to move forward and enjoy the spring and summer without any casts, but at the same time, I’m going to miss his “handles” (just a bit.) Who knows when and where cast number 14 is, but we are looking forward to the future with optimism and hope.