Week 2 & Jake and Evan's Birthday's

It's been a little over two weeks since Jakes lengthening surgery.  We are turning jakes fixator everyday and lengthening since tuesday 5/20 at a rate of 1mm per day, we have also been going to physical therapy 5 days a week. Jake loves his therapists and he is getting stronger everyday. We had a great week and Jake is doing well. Some days are better than others.. lately he has been having a lot of muscle aches and spasms and his stretches are getting harder!  Jake has to do a number of different knee stretches and leg lifts with the physical therapist everyday including a challenging knee flexion stretch three times a day (we usually do this stretch on his belly so we call it the belly stretch and it is very unpopular) and they are VERY hard for him, the goal is to get close to a 90 degree knee bend with each stretch.. Every time we lengthen his leg by turning the screw on his fixator his muscles get tighter and tighter and we need to stretch the muscles to maintain joint and muscle health and mobility.  He is such a trooper though and so very strong!!

We celebrated Jakes 6th birthday on Wednesday with our friends Kristen and Shawn Hafner and Jakes friend Brennan.  Jake got lots of presents and had a great time! We also celebrated Evens 2nd birthday today!!  Can't believe my baby is 2!!! :-0

Thanks again to all our amazing family and friends for your outpouring of love, prayers and support during this challenging time. Keep Jake in your prayers for his strength and comfort and determination.  God is good and he answers prayer ;)

We have an x ray and Physician Assistant post op appointment on Monday 6/2

Week 1

We had a good first week after Jakes surgery. Jake is doing so good!! He is even walking for short distances without his walker.  Physical therapy is pretty challenging though... His knee bend stretches are very hard and he cries through them    but he amazes us everyday with his strength and determination! 

Here are some pics from our week.  

The first pic is of Charles Petraske turning his fixator for the first time!

Post-Op Day 1

Dr. Paley said the surgery went well.  Jake has an external fixator that expands the length of his right leg from his pelvis to the top of his tibia.  He ha a total of 13 pin sites that are quite painful and require daily cleaning and dressing changes.  These pin sites are also very sensitive to infection so sterility must be managed effectively.  Now the recovery and lengthening process begins!  We will most likely start physical therapy on Friday or Monday and will have daily PT sessions to stretch his muscles and gain mobility in his knee and ankle.  Also in PT the fixator is turned so the break in Jakes' femur bone is slightly separated so new bone can grow and the lengthening process can happen.

Thank you so much for your support through prayer and donations. Please continue to pray for Jakes comfort as he adjusts to the fixator and the intense pain and swelling from surgery.  Pray that we can manage his pain effectively and also for him to have a positive outlook on this very hard process. 

The donations are wonderful so far!  Thank you so much to everyone who has donated.  We are very fortunate to have wonderful friends and family and feel supported through your generosity.  The financial burden of a major surgery, relocation and recovery process is overwhelming, we can't begin to thank each and every one of you for your love, support, prayers and donations.  It all means so very much to each of us and all of it is a true blessing from God!  

With Love,

The Petraske's 

The Petraske Project fundraising page

Surgery Day

Jake was in good spirits this morning despite having to wake up at 5:20AM to make our 6am call time for surgery.  He was a happy camper in pre op...

Jake was wheeled back to surgery at 8am and Charles and I are sitting in the waiting room waiting for an update.  Surgery will be about 4 hrs give or take. 

Thanks for all the love, prayers and support.

Update:
Dr. Paley came out to talk with us... He said the surgery went well, it just took longer than expected.  The whole procedure took about 4 hrs longer than anticipated.  Total operating room time for Jake was a little over 8 hours.  He is resting in his room now on the pediatric unit.

We are here in Florida

We are here in Sunny south Florida.  Our condo and surrounding area is really nice. Charles did a great job searching and finding a nice place.

We arrived on Sunday and have been enjoying the pools in our condo community.  Jake had pre op testing and an appointment with Dr. Paley on Monday.  It was a long day of doctor and nurses visits and a lot of waiting around, but we still managed to get in three rounds of pool time (Jake's #1 request).

Dr. Paley and his team of physicians outlined the surgery and lengthening process. The fixator will span the length of his right leg from his hip to the top of his tibia to stabilize the femur and protect his joints during the  lengthening process.  Lots of different variables with the fixator, surgery, recovery and physical therapy. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. I will continue to update the blog.

Here are some pics so far.

A Year in Review!!

Can’t believe it’s been over a year since we have updated our blog.

Jake is doing awesome!!  He is our energetic, smart, artistic, kind, courageous, funny and loving 5 (almost 6) year old.  He has grown SO much over this last year.   

Here is our year in review…

                                                2013

March- We get news from Dr. Paley that Jake is able to be full weight bearing on his new hip!  Jake is so excited to walk again and says he feels great!

 

Also in March- One of Charles great Friends Katie Hunter helped arrange a benefit for Jake Called Bowl for Jake... It was so incredibly heart warming to see all of our friends and family surround us with support and donations for Jakes surgery.  We are so blessed!!!  Thank you again to everyone who was involved (near and far)!! And a special thanks to Katie, Joelle and Cean, for all of your hard work and kindness!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 2013- Jake turns 5!! And Evan turned ONE!!

 

 

 

 July 2013- Luke turned 3 and the boys are enjoying their summer!! 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2013- Jake starts kindergarten and Luke starts pre-K at Saratoga Academy

October 2013- Halloween is a favorite time of year for Jake.

December 2013- Back to Florida for a Dr. Paley check up..

 
 

  
Jake and his Florida buddy, Brennan!!

 

 

Shawna graduated from nursing school also at the end of December and landed a great job as a labor and delivery/Postpartum nurse at Burdett Care Center in Troy, NY. 

 

 

                                                -2014-

January –March- the LONG COLD WINTER,

In February- Jake, Luke and Evan's Uncle Josh and Aunt Laura (aka Laurasaurus) got married

 

March- Dr. Paley gives Jake the “ok” to have lengthening surgery in May 2014, and the surgery date is set for Tuesday 5/13/14.

 

We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers and support!! God has truly blessed us with loving friends and family and we are thankful!!!

With Love,
Charles, Shawna, Jake, Luke, Evan and Lola