What about contact sports...or any sports for that matter???

[KeegansMom02]

I'm sorry I haven't been on much!
Since the birth of #2 in December, my time is limited.

I remember when were talking to Keegan's surgeon, prior to surgery, about everything to do with replacement surgery, he had mentioned that if he lives that he will never be able to play any sports, due to his coumadin...

Well, Keegan obviously lived, and is coming up on 4 years old. He has started asking me about playing sports...He wants to play soccar, t-ball, etc...

Now I do understand that getting hit is the major concern...Heck, I was told that he would not be able to get cut/scratched/or hit his head, and that he would have to wear a helmet at all times to protect his head from toddlerhood. Later his cardio told me that it wasn't necessary...And through experience, I have earned that a kid is a kid, and cuts/scrapes, etc are inevitable.
So does this mean that I should not permit sports in Keegan's life, unless it's swimming or golf (although...that may be viewed as dangerous to some. LOL)

I know that I should ask his cardio, but I KNOW that all of you really do have more knowledge and experience than his cardio. Dr. Washington doesn't have many kiddos on coumadin.

TIA!!!

 

[Guest]

I would think that T-ball would be OK. They wear helmets and are usually far enough away from the batted ball to not get severely injured. Headers in soccer might be a problem. Cumulative small injuries can do brain damage. Swimming sounds good. Golf too. I have forgotten where you live. My son has a kids golf program in Castle Rock. I told one kid once that if he couldn't grow up to play for the Broncos, then he should figure out a way to own the team.

 

[tommy]

There may come a time when kid sports turn to youth sports and become no-no's for "thin" blood. Does that mean you say "no" now?

My opinion is that if he shows an interest in t-ball and soccer, feed it. He may enjoy it and want more, or may move on to something else. If he still loves a "no-no" sport later, he could be an equipment manager, statistician, score keeper, announcer. Who knows?

Keep an eye out for distractibility. Kids don't like to get hurt and they will avoid injury when they can. But when they don't pay attention, then can get blind-sided. That could be an issue early on.

 

[mupster50]

When Tim, my son, was younger, he taught himself to ride a 2-wheeler bike and rode with a helmet. He also did karate, with helmet and arm and hand pads, but we were fortunate in that there was a program of Tae Kwan Do that was "noncontact" so even when he did get hit slightly, or blocked a kick, etc., it was not meant to hurt.

Perhaps there is something like that where you are or he could learn all the moves and participate in all the forms, but talk to the instructor about having limits for him as far as contact goes. They could have a higher belt work with him so that there is control of the kicks, punches, etc. Also check with your any rehab places around...they might know of someplace.

Baseball - why not?

Soccer - I would say not with the head butts, too constant.

Football - no - much too much for even a regular kid.

These questions as they grow up are so hard to answer or know what to do. It is your gut feeling I guess, like Tim with horseback riding.

IF I think of any thing else, I will write again.

Much love and prayers, margie

 

[Guest]

Baseball is more dangerous than T-Ball. Don't equate the two.

 

[KeegansMom02]

Thank you for your responces!

Thank you for your responces!

I called his cardio, Dr. Washington yesterday for something else, and decided to ask him. He told me pretty much what most of you said. He said t-ball was Ok, but no little league, because they start to learn how to slide. No soccer. He said that it is actually quite dangerous. He said to imagine 10 toddlers running after the same ball. LOL! No gymnastics... He told me that all he can really play is golf, singles tennis, swimming and track.

I feel so bad for him!
I hope that he understands, and isn't too upset about it all.
It just makes me feel so guilty!!!

Al, I live in Aurora. Keegan sees Dr. Reginald Washington at Rocky Mountain Pediatrix Cardiology at both PS/L and Skyridge hospital.

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[Guest]

We used to live at 6th and Buckley back when it was the edge of the Denver metro area. Tower Road only ran north from Colfax and was so remote that it was where murderers dumped the bodies.

 

[geebee]

I feel so bad for him!
I hope that he understands, and isn't too upset about it all.
It just makes me feel so guilty!!!

I am sure nothing I can say will eliminate the guilt that comes with being a mom. However, when Keegan is old enough, just try to help him understand that despite the things he can't do, the coumadin allows him to be around to golf, swim, play tennis and run. The alternative is just too awful to consider.

 

[PJmomrunner]

I feel so bad for him!
I hope that he understands, and isn't too upset about it all.
It just makes me feel so guilty!!!

I do understand how you feel. However...the truth is kids who grow up wearing bicycle helmuts while riding their trikes don't miss the wind in their hair when riding their bicycles and kids who grow up wearing seatbelts don't forget to put them on. If Keegan grows up knowing what his restrictions are and why, he won't have the same sense of loss of normalcy you are feeling on his behalf. His "normal" is just a little different from most people's. Heck, everybody's got something a little different about their "normal".

 

[KeegansMom02]

Great support!

Great support!

Thanks for the kind words and ideas!
I greatly appreciate it!
Most people don't understand, so it's nice to hear thoughts from the "experts".

Hehe! Al, that's too funny!
I don't live far from there...
Sheesh! it's grown so much, I don't think there's room for bodies anymore.

 

[PamO]

Keegan and Al - I was out at Buckley about two weeks ago to pick up some tile samples - I couldn't believe how much it's changed!!!! I used to work at Parker and Mississippi about five years and even in that short of time, I didn't recognize anything!