Light at the End of this Tunnel

It has been so long since I updated this little blog, and I continue to receive email from so many moms who, just like me, have received news that their precious little one has hip dysplasia and may need surgery.

To all of you, I offer this -- you WILL get through this, it IS going to be OK and you ARE doing the right thing.

I am so happy to report that Addison is a thriving almost seven year old now... she runs, jumps, swims and somersaults all over the place...she even completed a kids Mud Hero obstacle course race this summer. Can you believe that?! The best part... she has ABSOLUTELY no memory of her journey through harnesses and surgeries.

Hang in there... you WILL get through this. And please please please reach out for a shoulder to lean on, from someone who has been where you are now and can assure you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. These wee ones are so resilient and everything you are going through now is so worth the journey. My husband and I talk often about how the experience bonded us closer as a family, and closer to Addison. We could not see that at the time... but it is true. And now some pictures of our hip-healthy, happy little ray of sunshine.

Our Mud Hero Obstacle Course Cutie

Hiking with her Dad... her favourite adventure!

A pro-hiker

Addison LOVES gymnastics

There is nothing she cannot do!

The Best News

Her smile said it all following our last visit to the surgeon

The fact that this little blog has been neglected for so long should be an indicator of where we are at with our brave little girl. In December 2013 we took her in for her three year check up and it was a nail biter. The previous appointment we had with the surgeon had indicated that the hip was still a little shallow...so we went into the appointment with the usual anxiety about what the xray would reveal. The appointments in general are so much easier now that Addison is walking and talking up a storm. She can finally interact wtih the medical staff and we can help her understand why she needs to get an xray and that all that big noisy machine does is take pictures of her bones. There was no crying, no anxiety once she understood what this was all about. When the surgeon came into review the results, she examined Addison and asked how she was doing. She also had her run and jump and did a visual of how she moved...and finally gave us the news we had waited so long to hear. Her hips look great. All restrictions are removed. I am not sure it fully sunk in at first. We were so used to hearing the news that all was not 100% we approached each appointment thinking this type of outcome was not possible. Needless to say we were elated... we went right out and celebrated.

As a parent, I think back to the early days when we were delivered the news that our little one had hip dysplasia and I am amazed how far she has come since then. All the fears that shen will never be like other kids, worrying about the effects of surgery at such a young age, wondering if she will experience pain as she gets older...all of that is a distant memory. As parents we are so proud of how much she has achieved in her three little years.