Mary:
   We think what will be done will be a tendon release. We go back to Shriner's
in the fall and will hopefully talk more about plans for surgery. Since your
daughter still needs night splints several years after surgery, I wonder what
our son will need. I've read that even when the tendon release is done, because
of the arthrogryoposis, the abnormal muscles/tendons return to their pre-surgery
condition. Is that why your daughter still wears night braces?
   I had read that in babies casting is often done. Was that for the clubfoot?
   Our son was born in China and to our knowledge had nothing done before he
entered the orphanage or after. He is now 6yo. He does not have clubfoot.
However, his ankles have little range of motion. His walking looks like he is
flat-footed, but he is actually walking toe-to-toe. His ability to ambulate is
rather dependent on his straight-kneed contractures; we were told that surgery
will likely further limit his ability to walk so we are in no rush to have it
done. He is happy being able to walk, run, and get around on his own in his own
way.
   Holly
  




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]