Gab’s Botox Procedure

Thursday Gab had Botox injections done in her right thumb and right leg. When she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at only a few months old we always knew this might be an option for her. Her Neurologist had discussed Botox with me very early on, explaining that if she was lucky enough to walk one day that we might try to relax the muscles with Botox injections in order to help with her therapy. I guess that is the best way to describe it really. Her muscles contract in her thumb keeping it pushed against the palm of her hand. She had correctional surgery done in May of this year which helped a ton. The first video below shows her therapy session and her using her right hand. I was so proud of her.

After working twice a week in hour long therapy sessions since her surgery in May, the therapist came to me and asked to try e-stim on her. She felt like she had reached the limit with Gab and that we weren’t going to see any more progression in her hand use. The muscles were not contracting enough and her thumb just wasn’t out far enough. Being the mother I am, I refused to give up. I think one day Gab will use her hand even more, whether it is from age when she gets older just wanting to focus and try more or if through therapy she will finally progress further. Either way I wasn’t ready to give up and still am not. So I agreed to e-stim and since then we have tried it several times. Below shows a short video of the very first time. Gab made me try it first although I didn’t catch that on video, very weird feeling I must say.

After meeting with her Neurologist and a team of seven therapists, we all agreed that Botox would be the next best thing to try. Plus Gab has been having pain and stiffness in her leg muscle which is something that can happen in children with Cerebral Palsy who are lucky enough to walk. She is right-sided hemiplegic which means only her right side is affected by Cerebral Palsy, in Gab’s case, from her left brain stroke in utero. So when walking her left leg over compensates for her right leg weakness and her right leg is shorter than her left which she has an insole in her shoe to help off set that. Her Neurologist said the Botox injections in her leg will help with her muscle and is something she might possibly have to have done throughout her life.

Thursday’s procedure went well. They put her under full sedation in the OR and did the injections in her right hand and right leg. She came out of recovery feeling fine and had a great rest of the day. Besides her usual mood swings that have decided to join us again, things were normal. She went to school on Friday and had a great day. I am interested to see how her therapy goes next week, on Tuesday, now that the Botox injections have been done. I am really hoping they help!

Thank you to all the well wishes over this past difficult week and the amazing support from our friends. I speak for my whole family when I say we are very lucky to have a great supportive network, no matter how far we may be.