Dr. Brian Black ? is Namine’s orthopedic surgeon, but he isn’t only her foot doctor; he’s also her bone specialist. Namine needs that in a specialist because she has scoliosis (one of the results of Caudal Regression Syndrome) and because she breaks bones so easily. According to official diagnoses, she doesn’t have brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta), but she has suffered many broken bones in recent years.
Fortunately, Namine hasn’t broken anything since last year. This appointment was simply a routine checkup, per her six-month appointments. Dr. Black thought to start seeing her once a year, but given that Namine has broken so many bones, he decided to keep the checkups to twice a year. At this appointment, he said her legs and feet are looking good, and growing well.
The other reason for the checkup is measuring the curvature of Namine’s spine. As patients grow, scoliosis has been known to worsen, increasing the spine’s curve. This can not only lead to worsening pain but also other bone-related problems. As for Namine, the curvature in her spine has not changed for many years. That may change in the future, but for now, Dr. Black predicts no complications.
We’re fortunate to have Dr. Black as Namine’s doctor. He is excellent at his job, knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge with patients and parents like us. He also has excellent bedside manner, so much so that Namine is comfortable around him and willing to let him inspect her feet, even when he briefly stretches them to the point of pain. She understands that it is to her long-term benefit, but only because he has taken the time to know her, treating her like a person worthy of his time and respect.
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