Stumped for Solutions

Travis' Occupational Therapist called on Saturday, she was catching up on work, and she is stumped by Travis' toileting issues.  She noted in her evaluation of T that he likes to prop himself up or reposition himself to be more comfortable when he's sitting.  She also observed that T is uncomfortable, more tense when he sits straight up and is more relaxed when he can lift off his bum a little bit (both regular sitting and on the toilet).  The PT in the rehab group and the school district PT also noticed this uncomfortableness / lack of stability when they met with T.

Travis' left side starting around his bum and continuing to below his knee is larger than the right side due to the tumor.  He does the adjusting to make himself more comfortable, it can be as simple as putting his right foot under his left knee or laying to a side while playing.  This could be due to the location of his tumor or another thought I had when I was speaking with the OT was it could be from the hip/femur angulation.  Whatever the cause, it's uncomfortable for him and he compensates to make it more comfortable. 

We contacted Travis' case manager through our insurance to check if insurance would cover the cost of medical equipment to help with this issue.  Unfortunately, insurance will not cover any cost of this.  Strange, I know, but they don't for patients that have had hip surgery either.  Ummm, ok?!?  However, Travis' case manager and the OT mentioned several local places that may be able to help out at a reduced cost.  We're trying to figure out the best solution to help with his issue, one to provide him the stability where he can relax when it's time to "go". 

Travis has an appointment with a pediatric GI doctor that has several other patients with issues similar to Travis'.  This appointment isn't until the end of November.  However, he came highly recommended and he may have another idea to add to the mix.

This is another example of how medicine isn't the exact science we all tend to think it is.  It's never easy to hear that your child's issue has stumped the medical professionals.  Yet if no one asked why/how/I wonder/what if, science and medicine wouldn't have made the advances to get us where we are today.