Cindy,

        Some others on the list will know more about AFO's and such than I.
You sound like a very dedicated Mom and Lizzy Jo is a lucky little girl for
that! When dealing with professionals, don't let them "blow you off".
Remember, you know more about Lizzy Jo because you are with her most of the
time. Be polite, but push when they say, "We'll wait." Just say politely,
"I don't want to wait, what should I do." Some professionals think they
know all about something because they work in "such and such" an area. But
the truth is they only know the clinical stuff and not the day to day
problems which arise. You do, so in that since, that makes you the expert.
Try to find someone who will help you tie therapy to every day activities.
I had breathing problems related to my speech and so my physician put me in
singing lessons so that singing would affect my breath control. Stuff like
that. If you have any questions, ask any of us. Someone will come up with
something.

Best of luck!

Bobby



>Hello,
>My name is Cindy and I have a beautiful 17 month old girl named Elizabeth
>Josephine (Lizzy Jo for short) she has been diagnosed with a very mild case
>of cp.  She has PT once a week.  Please forgive me, I've been lerking
>around on the list , and had not the curage(spelling?) to write before
>this.  But things that are mentioned here intregue me.  How young can some
>of these devices be used?  and how do you get people to listen to your
>concerns without pushing you to the side with things like" we'll wait till
>she's older."  I'm also interested in Botox and at what age those shots can
>begin?  Lizzy's hamstrings are so tight and seem to be the mainstay of her
>mobility problems.  Any advice from those of you who have delt with this
>alot longer then us would be more then welcomed.  I just want the right
>tools, so that we can help Lizzy Jo as early as possible.  Heck it took me
>6 months to convience her doctor that there was even something wrong.  Now
>they are telling me it is so mild they don't want to label it CP right now.
> Please  HELP!!!!!
>              Thanks: Cindy and Lizzy Jo