Look who's standing!! It is August and tomorrow marks one month since cast-off. What does life look like one month into regained mobility?
1. By the photo above, Hip Chick completed a long jump ahead with her gross motor skills. What was the catalyst?
The only event I can point to is our long day at the lake last Saturday. Otherwise, we are elated and surprised!
2. What can Hip Chick do now?
This week, she moved for the first time in the bathtub. This was the tipping point to a landslide of mobility feats. She has been naturally motivated to strengthen her legs for weeks- she often places her head and hands on the floor, then stretches her legs, sticking her rump up in the air like a yoga pose. She can climb off of our couch and master bed by herself. She can briefly stand with no assistance. She can walk with assistance- she attempted to walk by holding onto only one of my hands this evening, but did not make it very far.
3. Do we anticipate she will walk prior to her surgery?
Yes. She is not far from it. Her surgeon had advised that most children regain mobility in a similar timeframe as their casting. Well, our hippie had 14 weeks of casting and four weeks of traction prior to... who would have guessed that she would be this close to walking again after only four weeks!? Last year, she began walking in August. This must be a month of good fortune for her.
4. Is her gait similar to before, or has her stride changed?
She still has a pronounced limp- perhaps even moreso than before. My stomach knots at times while I observe her attempt to walk- this obvious sign was our first, big hint that something was wrong and it was dismissed for months. Hindsight...
5. How is her demeanor?
Yesterday, she spent nearly an hour riding a rocking horse at daycare, yelling, "YEEHAW, I'm a COWGIRL!" She seems to be doing just fine!
6. Do we want her to walk prior to surgery?
That is a loaded question. I mentioned in a prior post that the guilt of cheering for her mobility initiatives (when we know it will soon be taken from her again) can be overwhelming. At the same time, it is exciting to see her reclaim her independence. The entire experience in bittersweet. At least we know she will have renewed strength heading into the osteotomies.
7. The last post conveyed a period of emotional difficulty- will this resolve?
There is a cliche that "the only thing constant about life is change." Emotions are highly changeable and my husband and I will continue to ride the turbulence.
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