Clubfoot Ming no more!
Ming has been undergoing a series of full leg casts for the past several months under the supervision of Dr Paul Sponseller of John’s Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. It works somewhat like braces on your teeth, but more quickly since kids are very flexible and malleable - think Gumby! Every week and a half or two weeks, Ming received a new cast and Dr Sponseller or Nurse Practitioner Kristen Venuti would adjust her foot a bit more.
When she was at home she would completely ignore the cast, it was as if it wasn’t there, but she ALWAYS cried at the hospital. It wasn’t painful, she just didn’t like getting the cast removed and replaced. Note the picture below! The casting material is a wonderful rigid material that is wet and then wound around to create a full leg cast. Almost immediatly it is rigid but lightweight and ready to go.
We’re waiting for her orthotics; she’s getting a nightime sleeping brace ( like big brother Kai Dong) , and a short molded day brace to support her ankle. Both braces will help keep her foot from starting to turn inward again.
Below are Ming’s “before” and “after” photos.

Ming’s foot in her referral photo (click above to zoom)

Ming stands! Ming Cries! Ming doesn’t like going to the doctor’s!
(click above to zoom)

Phew! Nothing like a big, soft puppy after a tough day!
Ming sleeps with her new little cast* (click above to zoom)
* I had a question about Ming’s small cast, since it is not the standard full leg cast -Â the answer;
Ming had her little short cast just for a few days. On the day we went in to get her last cast off, her orthotics were ready (Ponsetti night brace and a molded day brace for her ankle) but somehow there were crossed communication wires and they were left at the Dennison orthotics office. To avoid losing the beautiful correction and to avoid another trip for us to Baltimore ( 2 hours RT), Dr. Sponseller put a little half cast on her, which I unwrapped myself and took off as soon her orthotics arrived in the mail. The short cast actually worked like a charm, it gave her a chance to begin to trot around with some support, and it was easy to remove.


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