We just wrapped up our 30th trip to Greenville, SC, for appointments at Shriners Children’s Greenville. (I’ve not kept track of actual appointments.) That alone feels like a milestone, and this visit absolutely lived up to that.
Not only did this trip mark the beginning of a new chapter, but it also felt like the closing of one. Bookends, in a way. So, as usual, let’s break it down.
The Drive Down
This two-day trip had us seeing both Dr. Pete and Dr. Hyer, with us seeing Dr. Pete first, on Thursday, before seeing Dr. Hyer on Friday. (Different clinic days for the win!) Let’s be real: It’s always a little nerve-racking heading down when we see Dr. Pete, our spine specialist. With other appointments, we usually have a rough idea of what we’re walking into. We know if Harrison’s left foot is regressing or if his legs are tight. We’ve got something to prep for, because we can see and feel things.
But spine appointments? Those come with fewer clues. You just don’t know until you see the X-rays.
It had been nearly four months since our last visit, and while the brace Harrison wears mostly at night hits right at the edge of where his spinal curve begins, anytime he grows, the worry creeps in. Has the curve worsened? Has something shifted? We’ve always known that back surgery is coming. It’s not an if or a maybe. It will happen. The only question is when.
The goal has always been to delay surgery until he’s at least 6 or 7 years old, so his body is stronger, and his chest is more developed. But there’s always that worry: what if the curve progresses and moves that timeline up?
That worry lingered on the drive down.
And then, the universe gave us a little show. Not one, but two rainbows. We literally drove under them, after watching them form from faint strands into full arcs. And yeah, part of me wanted to take it as a sign, but I didn’t dare say that out loud and risk jinxing it.
Still. Two rainbows on the way to our 30th trip? Pretty cool start.
The Hotel
If you’ve followed these posts, you’ve probably caught on that the night clerk at our hotel has basically become part of our routine. She knows us now, recognizes my name, even my face. She never asks for my ID, credit card is stored. It’s the closest I’ll ever come to Norm walking into Cheers.
But this time, she looked up from the computer and said, “Wait… you’re here for two nights?”
She actually shook her head and said, “Yeah… I don’t like that. You stay here one night. That’s how it works.”
She was legit thrown off by the change. It was kind of hilarious (especially when you consider that I had to have the door keys reprogrammed the next day, because they had only been set for one night.) Then she added, “What’s your wife’s name? I’ve never asked. I’ll put her on the reservation since you’re staying longer.”
So now Jenna’s officially in the system. And I finally paid attention to her name tag; her name is Shawn. (Not Shawna, in case I forget later.)
Day 1.
With it being a two-day visit, our first day at Shriners started like it usually does: x-rays. It’s standard procedure; we get X-rays before seeing Dr. Pete. But because we were also seeing Dr. Hyer the next day, X-ray decided to just knock them all out in one go rather than have us revisit them on Friday.
That meant six or seven X-rays. (Honestly can’t remember at this point)
Now, if you’ve been around for any length of time, you know Harrison hates X-rays. They’ve always been a battle. We’ve had to hold him down through tears and fighting. It’s part medical trauma, part deep sensory discomfort. But this time?
He crushed it. Handled it like a pro.
No tears. No screaming. No meltdowns. He just… did it. Calm, focused cooperation. Total shift from past visits.
It was so different, I didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, I was proud. On the other hand, I was nervous. Almost too nervous. Because in my brain, that much calm can only mean something wrong is coming. But Harrison handled everything, from spine to knees to legs to feet, like a champ.
Dr. Pete
This visit was our final appointment with Dr. Pete; he’s retiring.
It was bittersweet, but we couldn’t have asked for a better final visit.
Harrison’s spine?
Holding steady. Maybe even slightly improved.
It was such good news that I actually had Dr. Pete repeat it to Jenna. (Who was extra stressed and worried about H’s spine)
Dr. Pete was happy. Like genuinely proud-happy. He said Harrison’s right on track to hit that 6–7-year-old goal before needing surgery. No brace changes. No big warnings. Just: “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
It felt like the best possible way to close this chapter with him.
A quick trip to POPs for a brace check, and to have some padding replaced, and we were finished with Shriners for day one.
The Rest
After a stress-heavy day like that, you’d expect some decompression time, and we got it in the best way.
For the first time in 30 trips to Greenville, we went swimming. (And putting Harrison in his happy place.)
We’ve got a water dog on our hands now, and Harrison loved the hotel pool. He was walking the steps, going under water, swimming back and forth to us (and showing he’s already learned a few things from Aqua-tots!).
That evening, Harrison and I made good on a promise and took Jenna to CiCi’s Pizza. She’s mentioned it so many times that I finally looked it up before the trip… and lo and behold, there’s one in Greenville. Who knew?
So we went. She got to share it with Harrison, an old college favorite, and our boy crushed the breadsticks and cinnamon rolls like he was carbo-loading for a toddler triathlon.
After pizza, we found a small park nearby with a view. Not just any view, though! Runway Park in Greenville is just what it sounds like: a park next to a runway! The park itself is appropriately aviation-themed and is a place where you can watch planes take off and land right in front of you. Harrison wasn’t as impressed as we were to sit and watch the planes take off, but he was kind enough to entertain his parents for a few minutes.
Admittedly, it was pretty cool and just a nice park to visit. (With or without the planes) I suspect we’ll be making another visit there down the road.
All in all, our first day gave us a rare, simple, and just chill evening in Greenville. Typically, our two-day trips have involved more stressful things, and we’ve used the afternoon and evening of that first day to essentially decompress and regroup for the next day. This trip, however, after the great visit with Dr. Pete, we were able to just relax and enjoy our time.
Day Two.
Our second day was all about Dr. Hyer.
We knew going in that we’d be talking about upcoming procedures, especially with Harrison’s feet. His left foot has always been the troublemaker. When he was born, it was curved up against his right butt cheek, and it’s always been more stubborn than the right.
So here’s what’s coming with surgery officially on the horizon, likely this fall:
- Surgery on both feet.
- Moving a tendon from the inside of the foot to the middle to help with foot alignment
- Revisiting his Achilles with another release
- Shaving a bone in the ankle that isn’t shaped quite right (which comes with having club feet). Dr. Hyer described it as a square peg in a round hole.
- Knee Release in both knees (to help straighten his knees, release tendons)
- A possible left shin rotation
- Potential hamstring lengthening
- An extended hospital stay, along with 6 weeks of casts.
All of it is to help with positioning, walking, and long-term function. There’s also talk of future procedures for his knees, but that won’t be looked at until he’s at least eight.
After a bit of a reprieve, Harrison’s lower half is about to enter a new chapter of its own.
It’ll be the most involved surgery he’s had so far. And our longest stay in Greenville. (All a drop in the bucket compared to dealing with casts. Let us not forget the leg casts from 2 years ago! We’re still not recovered, and our boy is only stronger in his determination and stubbornness.)
We wrapped up the visit with another visit at POPs to add toe extension and updated straps to help get these latest AFOs through to surgery. (They’re past being on borrowed time)
Wrapping Up
When I said this trip was a milestone, I wasn’t exaggerating. It was the closing of one chapter: our time with Dr. Pete. The first doctor on Harrison’s team to be replaced. The next time we have a spinal appointment, it will be with a new doctor. This trip also marks the beginning of another chapter, with major surgeries and a new round of casting on the horizon.
What’s coming won’t be easy; a long surgery, a longer stay, and at least six weeks in walking casts. We’ve been through it before (and still flinch when we think about the cast fiasco of 2023), but we know it’s the right move. Harrison’s made so much progress already, and this is just the next step forward.
It’s all progress. It’s all forward motion. And that’s what we want.
Thank You
If you’ve read this far, or if you’ve read any of the 29 previous Greene Does Greenville posts, I just want to say thank you.
I know these posts can ramble. Sometimes they’re long, sometimes they’re just a way for me to process things. Occasionally, they’ve essentially just been a copy & paste of Jenna’s post on Facebook. But they’ve become a record, for me, for Jenna, for Harrison.
The other day, I came across the unpublished post from our 7th trip (shared here) and was reminded of all the chaos from that overnight stay. I was able to recall all the chaos we endured (especially the fire alarms and bomb scare), but had forgotten all those random chaotic things had all occurred on the same visit. On the same night. These posts help me remember. Not just remember, but in order. They keep this journey linear when it would otherwise be a wibbly wobbly mess in my head by this point.
We’ve come a long way from that very first trip, when I wasn’t even allowed inside because of COVID rules, sitting in the car and writing down thoughts out of nervous energy. Clueless as to what was going on with my then, not even a month-old son.
Now I’m right there beside him. And we’re planning. Preparing. Facing the next round head-on.
So again, thank you. Thank you for reading, for supporting, for cheering on our boy. Whether you’ve prayed, sent messages, rooted for him quietly, sent positive energy, or followed along silently… it means more than I can say.
Here’s to the next 30.
We’re just getting started.
