Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Relief.

Ready for the GREATEST NEWS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE? Well, I think you'll need a little background first. I have PFFD. That's an acronym basically describing my hips. My right femur bone didn't develop correctly and I am missing the neck and head on my femur bone. Without the head, I do not have a normal hip socket. Also, my right femur is shorter than the left. So if you've known me for a while, you know that I often make fun of my short leg and such. Well, I didn't think that this was genetic.

When Addy was born, I thought everything was perfect with her. The doctor came in the next day and told me that they noticed something wrong with her hip. My heart sank. I didn't want my perfect little girl to go through all that I did growing up, and even now. Well, they noticed that her left hip was out of socket. Exactly how I was when I was first born. We went to a specialist that gave her a harness to wear to keep the bone in the socket so the socket could develop correctly. She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia initially. There was still a chance that she could have PFFD too, as they can't really tell the anatomy of the hip until later (5-6 months when the bones start to develop). So for 5.5 months, I have been worried sick that she would have PFFD. We went to the doctor today, and he took an x-ray of her hips. He came back into the room and showed me the x-ray. Her femur bones are developing normally, and she in fact does not have PFFD, but only hip dysplasia. Our prayers were answered. Her condition is not severe, and a simple surgery and a cast for a few months will correct the problem, and then she'll be like any other kid. I bawled as I called Matt and my Mom to tell them the wonderful news. I know that most of you are thinking But she'll need surgery and she'll be in a cast for a few months?! Doesn't think break your heart? The answer is: no. This is such a small hiccup in the span of her life and ours too. She won't remember any of it, and she'll grow up with normal legs and everything will be fine. I think, really, the only people that can really understand why this is such good news are Matt, and my family. They know what I have been through and how hard it was for all of us to deal with. So the fact that Addy May will grow up normally is such a huge blessing.

Hanging out on the exam table, loving life. Her hair cracks me up.

I went to take this picture up close and she spit as soon as I snapped the picture. Notice the lovely spit mark on the camera. Nice. Also, it looks like her cheeks are lop-sided. Weird. They aren't. Hahaha The rest of the day, I didn't get much done. I hung out and played on the floor with this little person til Daddy got home. I couldn't help it.

3 comments:

  1. Sup Cutlers, it's Barnum! So I'm the creep from APO in your visitors feed, checkin out how y'all are doing. check us out at ryanletticebarnum.blogspot.com if you want. Hope all is well!

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  2. AAAHHH!! This IS fantastic news!! We've all been praying for you and your sweet baby girl down here.

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