Thanks guys. I feel especially bad for her, because she's already gone through so much medically.

How old is she?

8. (I originally said 7, but she just turned 8). She's going to have to wear the brace until her bones stop growing.

Once her bones stop growing, will it be okay? Or is there a worse next step?

Bev, I make toasted cheese sandwiches almost the same way you do. The only difference is that after I toast the bread, I place a single cheese slice between the warmed bread slices and then fold a paper towel around it all and smoosh down. No microwave and cheese isn't totally melted, just warmed. I admit, I'm a simple girl.

Lee, I can't even imagine dealing with so many medical issues at *my* age, let alone eight years old. Bless her heart.

Once her bones stop growing, will it be okay? Or is there a worse next step?

I think that is it, though I don't really know.

the idea of baby lamb just freaks me out

My step-sister is the same way about eggs. She learned they were baby birds (skipped the "potentially" part) when she was 16 and hasn't touched one since.

For me, the grossness of lamb is that while we had leg of lamb every Easter and random other times, nobody knew to remove the lymph node from it before cooking and serving. Blech.

Once her bones stop growing, will it be okay? Or is there a worse next step?

It should be okay physically at that point, but she'll have gone through some important developmental years with other kids at their meanest while wearing a brace. Not always the easiest thing to overcome.

It should be okay physically at that point, but she'll have gone through some important developmental years with other kids at their meanest while wearing a brace. Not always the easiest thing to overcome.

Yep. Very true, I'm afraid.

It should be okay physically at that point, but she'll have gone through some important developmental years with other kids at their meanest while wearing a brace. Not always the easiest thing to overcome.

Well, at least there will be an end in sight. t /vaguely silver lining

Other kids often stink. But I think everyone gets picked on, and excuse the pun, it's late and I can't think of another way of phrasing this, at least she can brace for the teasing, by somewhat expecting it. Yes, that's not very encouraging, either, but at least she'll be somewhat prepared? Or maybe the other kids will be nice, and rather used to her brace, since she's getting it while she's still so young?

E.T.A.:

nobody knew to remove the lymph node from it before cooking and serving. Blech.

Just the idea of that is stomach-churning. Just seeing those words lumped together. Now the word "lumped" is making me feel icky too.

And eggs are weird and sometimes nasty.

And, you know, maybe it's good to have something that obvious to have to overcome, rather than more nebulous self-worth issues. Dunno. Actually, my couple friends who were in body braces as kids are no more screwy than me or my non-braced friends.

Lee, are you apartmented?

And eggs are weird and sometimes nasty.

Yes.

I missed the Lymph node part. Bleech.

Lee, are you apartmented?

Only in LA. I go up to look at the end of the month, unless I decide to go over next weekend.

Good luck then! Hope you find what you want.

I'm off - I'm sick and also got about 3 hours of sleep, so I don't know yet whether I'm going home to nap or actually going to make my appointment for a hospital tour, but either way I'm outtie.