Beginnings

Developmental Hip Dysplasia.  We received the diagnosis from our pediatrician on January 25th.  Not 10 minutes later, we received a call from the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children to schedule an initial meeting with our daughter's assigned orthopaedic surgeon.  Yes, life changes that fast.

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of information, coordination, tears, and hope.  During this time, I stumbled upon numerous blogs penned by parents who seemed much like us at the onset: shocked, confused, lost- and seeking answers.  Reading their experiences made me feel a little less alone, and so I hope this benefits another "hip chick's" parent someday. 

As DDH is uncommon (1 in 1,000 live births) many parents find it helpful to share risk factors.  In our case, our child fits the birth order (my first), gender, and ethnic requirements.  She was not born in a breech position, but was breeched until the third trimester.  Because she was not in breech position at birth, an ultrasound was not performed in early infancy.  My husband and I have no known incidents of DDH in our families.  Signs first became visible to the naked eye once she began walking at 14 months- she always hobbled and we affectionately joked that she had a "pirate walk."  Our pediatrician advised multiple times that her limp was simply to be monitored, but once her limp also gave way to a hip click, x-rays were ordered... and here we are.

Our busy, bouncy, boisterous 20 month old daughter's plan of care was nailed down today:

• Four weeks of Bryant's Traction.  (Traction?!  Have you SEEN her activity level?)  Ideally, this will be 24 hours/day, outside of meals and sponge baths.

• Closed reduction with accompanying groin surgery

• Spica cast- 18 weeks

• Recasting under anesthesia every six weeks

• Possible open reduction surgery scheduled during casting period if progress is not made

In total, it could be six months before our little hippie has the opportunity to walk again.  That is the most heartbreaking aspect of the road she is about to face.   

We are very fortunate in the kindness, generosity, and support we have received.  Our employers are allowing us to rotate a "work at home" schedule during her traction.  Her daycare personnel have outdone themselves and offered to do everything within their power to care for her once casted, to help her maintain a sense of normalcy.  To aid the transition, we are giving the daycare a spica chair- if you have not yet checked out IvyRose Spica Chairs, take a moment to see how one woman has made something beautiful out of immobility.  We are fortunate enough to live within a brief driving distance of one of the top five pediatric orthopaedic specialty hospitals in the country.  Friends, family, and coworkers have showered us with encouragement.

Her treatment begins in 11 days.  We don't want this experience to change her bubbly personality, so as the clock ticks down, we are seeking cheery ways to reinvent her surroundings over the next six months.  Challenge, accepted!