2 replies to this topic

[Craiglwright]

Hi all
My name is craig. I have registered on this site as my 6 year old son has recently had a cancerous tumour removed from his spine and is now a T12/L1 paraplegic due to late diagnosis.
I need advice on anything and everything to help him maintain as normal a life as is possible, Pressure Sores a re a particular concern as he is undergowing Chemotherapy and so is not healing. Also his toes feet and legs seem to be getting stiff no matter how often i do stretches with him.
Incontinece is also an issue we are trying to manage, he has a supra pubic in now, but i just need any tips or advice anyone might have.

thanks in advance for any info you can pass on to me.

[goose]

Welcome Craig....my heart goes out to you, your son and family. I can't imagine having to watch someone that young try to take on all that and all the things that goes with it.

Keep a close check on ALL areas that might suffer from a pressure sore.If anything starts looking pink, try to relieve any pressure there. Do regulate weight shifts at least once an hour. Prevention is the best attack now.

Have you spoken to a nutritionist about proper foods to eat? I would think keeping his energy level up would be a key factor. I went thru cancer treatment (unrelated to spinal cord) and just remember I was extemely fatigued all the time. Naps or just rest periods help too.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

[kansasmom]

Craig, you might also want to come over to the spinal cord tumor forum. Most there are adults with SCTs, but my son is 15 yrs old and had a spinal cord tumor, L1-L4, diagnosed in April. There are a few of us parents there, and also some adults who started with the whole spinal cord tumor deal in childhood. I use the same login name over there, so you'll be able to find me easily.

What kind of tumor did your son have? Was it an astrocytoma? Is he home from the hospital now? Is he receiving physical therapy? I'd be happy to "talk" more.