It was a big week for Gaby last week. She got her cast off on Wednesday and turned 3 years old on Friday, two events on opposites of the emotional spectrum. As you astute readers have probably already noticed, the orange cast Gaby is wearing in the picture above is not the same one that she had put on 5 weeks ago.
The first cast was not put on properly (x-ray below) and it needed to be removed and a new one had to be put on. That happened about 3 weeks ago and it was traumatic for both Kristin and Gaby. Kristin told me a horror story involving loud buzz-saws, flying dust, and general chaos and commotion. She made me promise to accompany her for the next cast removal.
True to her word, there was indeed a buzz-saw but it was smaller and quieter than I had imagined from Kristin's description. It's also equipped with a safety cover that prevents the blade from cutting if it's not being pressed into the cast. The nurse tried to show Gaby by asking Kristin to put out her finger so that she could demonstrate that the saw was a "no owies" saw. Kristin flinched and the nurse gave her an "oh no you don't" look.
Gaby cried a bit, but generally handled it like a trooper. Afterward, the nurse gave her a few princess stickers and she brightened right up. You can see the before and after shots below.
It's only been a week and she is already back to using her right arm for almost everything.
