This is the only picture I have of my days in the body cast. I was born with crooked legs, and back in the day, after therapy, braces, and corrective shoes, the last resort was orthopedic surgery. I guess they still do that in the present day, but the difference is this, NO CAST. My cast went from nipple line to ankles and I wore it for 6 weeks. There was a hole cut between my legs so I could use the bathroom in a bedpan. I still have nightmares about the bedpan.
It was amazing to me how many people remembered this ordeal, (and mentioned it) when I was at my twenty year high school reunion. I was out of school for 7 weeks, but I got to visit on two occasions, Valentines day and a special movie day to watch Joe Panther. My mom brought a bunch of pillows and laid me on the reading group table. I’m sure I was quite a sight. I have no idea how I was transported. I wonder if my mom put me in the trunk or if I fit in the back seat. SInce I couldn’t bend at the waist I am not sure how I got from home to school. I never remember a car ride.
Anyway.
I passed on my pigeon toes to Bronson who in 4th grade had the same surgery I did, but he got by without a cast. Thank heavens for both of us. I still packed him around for 4 weeks, but I didn’t have the extra weight of the plaster weighing him down. Oh the joys of passing on our genetic problems.
This post is dedicated to all my peeps from Muir Elementary. Thank you again for never teasing me or making fun of my crooked legs and/or my cast. I went to school with NICE kids.
..and I can’t post this picture and not mention the carpet. Holy Shit! This is at my Grandparents house. Had I grown up in this home, my rage issues would be far worse.
How cute! I Love that you have your box of babies sitting right next to you too! And, my kids go to Muir! Hilarious! Still a great school with NICE kids. (as far as I know)
Apparently Sandi, you were collecting babies in bunches even then. A harbinger of things to come. That is TOO funny.
I saw the same thing as Stephen. What a beautiful portent of things to come!
I’m glad you and Bronson are okay!
Sandi, I don’t remember this. How old were you? I moved in the summer before 2nd grade. Maybe we weren’t friends yet. I can’t imagine having a full body cast. That is crazy! I’m glad they don’t do that anymore!
Love that you are going through that and still manage a smile for the camera!!
I remember seeing a kid in that sort of get up once at the Cincinnati Zoo… I felt so bad because he had to have just been so miserable. But his parents were doing their best to keep him happy and hydrated and entertained.
It’s amazing how anyone could survive being in a full body cast at that age! Wow!
Funny what a small world this is. We just moved to Utah and live just a couple of blocks from Muir!
Can you even imagine, as a parent, having to watch your child wear a cast like that for so long? You poor thing! What was the purpose of such a all-emcompassing cast? OK, I know it was to keep your legs immobile, but it went so high…my goodness…
My grandparents had red carpet too in their house. Gives me warm fuzzies to see that shade of carpet
I love this picture. And I love that you are hanging out a grandma’s. So we had red walls in my living room when I was a child…does that count as a source for some of my issues?
Haaa! People noticed the baby doll love. You look like such a sweet, sweet kid. Were you cranky during the 6 weeks or was it like an adventure to you?
My parents had that same carpet. Hmmm….that explains a lot. A LOT I tell you!!!!
Who are those folks standing on the fireplace?
You were freaking adorable.
I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. But you look so content in the pic– even with that crazy rug
xo
Man 6 weeks in a cast like that…holy cow! Did you have to re-learn to walk?
We are looking at a house to purchase right now…it has the SAME carpet still. One of the first things is to pull it up and take advantage of the hardwood underneath!
Wow! I definitely see lots of your Hadley in this pic
(I love that you have the babies by your side too! So cute!)
Have a great weekend Sandi!
-Olivia
The first thing I noticed was the beautiful smile… even with the casts on! What a fun kid you must have been.
Aww! What a cutie! There is a little boy in Tim’s school that has casts on both legs that go from his groin to his ankles and I thought that seemed pretty miserable. Nipples to ankles-must have been wonderful to take your first bath after that ordeal!
I can still remember that bath. I scratched my legs until they bled. It felt so damn good.
Hilary- This was third grade. You were around, you came to visit me at my house. Do you remember when we had 4H at your house and we made cornhusk dolls?
I remember your cast. I don’t remember Joe Panther (I don’t even know what that is….was I there???….was I asleep???….principal’s office???) but I remember that cast. Muir was indeed full of nice kids, as was Mueller Park and then Bountiful High.
Wow….that must have really really sucked. I feel bad for babies when they are casted like that. But as an older kid, I would have gone crazy!!!!
Yeah, the carpet…
I didn’t know they did body casts from top to bottom like that! Poor little you.
I had a body cast for 10 months. My entire torso. Not fun.
Don’t you remember that movie about the kid that wrestled the Alligator? I think he was Native American. We watched it a few times throughout our Muir days. If you remember the cast, you should remember watching the movie, or maybe you were captivated by my plaster.
Wow! A full body cast on such a little kid – you must’ve been really glad to get that thing off!
And most people’s worst childhood ailment is a broken bone or dental work!
oh i grew up with orange carpet
and you are so lucky those kids were nice!
Sorry Sandi, I have a pathetic memory. But I do remember the cornhusk dolls. (I came across that pic recently. I should dig it up and send it to you). I also remember making hot dog sandwiches at your house and then I couldn’t wait to make it for my family. LOL! I loved 4H. We had a really fun group of friends.
Yep, I remember the cast too. I think I was even jealous. You got so much attention when you came in. But what I really remember, is the non matching shoes. You always had on shoes that didn’t quite match. Did you know someone in the shoes biz? I can’t remember now, but I thought it was cool then.
Your last paragraph cracked me up. Is it the white stuff you’re talking about (carpet) or the orange? We had burnt orange shag carpet in our “Florida” room when I was this same age (I am not quite a full year younger than you). Maybe it’s why my parents divorced around then.