My first brace

Wednesday 24th February 2010 (Late entry because my Dad took so long to set up my blog)

Today I went with my Mum and Dad to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH). I felt excited and nervous all at the same time because I was going to try on my brace for the first time!

About a month ago I had to go and have it fitted. They took a plaster cast of my back so they could make the brace for me. I chose the design that I really liked. It is white with pictures of footballs and football boots all over it!

We saw the same lady who took the cast of my back and the same man too. They were very nice. When I put it on it felt very uncomfortable. It was too tall and too long and they had to cut it to the right size (not while I was wearing it). When they thought it was the right size they put the brace back on and asked me if it felt OK and I said ‘it still hurts a little bit under my arms’. They had to trim it a few more times to get it just right! Once it fitted comfortably they put holes in so I don’t get to hot, and they put some soft stuff on it to make it comfortable. Once everyone was happy (especially me) with the fit of the brace I put it on and we said goodbye.

On the way home I was very upset as my brace felt horrible and I didn’t like it. My Mum and Dad took me to have a special treat, a Chinese meal! Yummy! But I still felt sad and wanted to take my brace off.

As it was the first day I only wore the brace for 1 and a half hours. It was really uncomfortable. I didn’t expect it to be like that, even though my Dad told me. It helps that my Dad had to wear one too, so he knows what he’s talking about.

Tomorrow I have to wear it for 3 hours, on Friday for 4 hours and on Monday I will wear it to school for the whole day. I think it will be less uncomfortable as I will be used to it. I am excited to take it into school and show everyone there. I’m also very excited about keeping this blog.

This x-ray is of my spine in January 2009.