With the return to New York, it was time to focus once again on Angelo's recovery. At least for today, the day of his 3rd-month check-up. Countless times, Niels had to tell Amanda to relax, but she knew he was nervous as well. Leaving Emi with Isa and Zelda, Niels and Amanda strapped Angelo into his car seat and took a cab to the doctor's office. As they sat in the waiting room, Amanda sent up a million prayers to the powers above.
Throughout the check-up, Angelo remained fast asleep. No matter what they did to him--from removing his clothes, to weighing him, to exercising his limbs--he slept on. Amanda listened to the confusing medical jargon: brachial plexus, birth palsy, sympathetic nerve fibers... She watched intently as the doctor performed several motor tests, feeling for any resistance in Angelo's muscles. Angelo had progressed fairly well; he had a far greater range of motion than he'd shown at birth, and while he wasn't exactly where the doctor wanted him to be by now, the improvement showed that there was still hope. The doctor slowly moved Angelo's arms above his head and when the doctor let go to explain the next plan of action, they were all pleased to see that Angelo's left arm retracted only slightly. "Now this is a great sign," the doctor remarked. "So at this time, I'll say that he doesn't need any immediate surgery. If he still has problems moving his left arm on his own after toddlerhood, then we will discuss surgical options again. But right now, I believe that he will continue to improve with time. Keep taking him to therapy weekly and exercising his arms at home. If he fusses while trying to move his left arm, then it's still a good sign that he's at last trying." Amanda beamed, tears of joy in her eyes. "Did you hear that? He's going to be okay," she told Niels. "There's hope."
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Amanda at a GlanceNames: Amanda Pontremoli, Amanda van Loon Archives
August 2017
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