I would like to take this time to introduce to you, our newest doctor to enter Josephine’s world…(trumpets please): Dr. Mark Rieger, Pediatric Orthopedist, at The Orthopedic Center in Cedar Knolls, NJ.

I have read that scoliosis is a common characteristic of Tet 8p – about 1/2 of the kids, or 7 if you want numbers. And I’ve noticed since Josephine has been on her feet and moving more, she always leans one direction (don’t ask me which way since I can’t even tell MY OWN left and right at this point).

Besides, I was getting tired of the same old set of doctors and wanted to meet someone new…

Seriously, though…Dr. Rieger was very kind and had a great bedside manner with Josephine.

No scoliosis at this point. Straight spine. I am certainly relieved to hear that. But I also know that as she starts to walk more, her spine may change as well.  I tell ya, this gal’s keepin’ me on my toes!

He prescribed braces for Josephine – called Bilateral Low Profile SMOs – to help her strengthen her standing and walking. Josephine had her fitting last week and we should be getting them in the next couple of weeks.

Dr. Rieger also noted a rib cage abnormality, which we knew about. What we didn’t know was if it was an extra rib, bowing rib, missing rib, etc…

It was suggested that Josephine has a bell-shaped unilateral rib cage (good luck finding ANY information on THAT one…scoured the Internet for something to see, but came up short) and should see a Pediatric Pulmonologist to determine if her lungs are affected by the deformity.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to Morristown Medical Center we go (well, went, since I am so far behind)…