Gold Medal

One year ago today was one of the most difficult days in our life.  One year ago today, Daddy and I awoke with much dread and hardly choked back our tears through the day.  One year ago today... Hip Chick was placed into traction for the onset of her DDH treatment.

Yes, it was the beginning of a very challenging year... and look where Hip Chick is today!

With this anniversary in mind, it may seem odd timing to bring sports into discussion, but I cannot think of a more appropriate topic.  Big Sis, Hip Chick, Daddy and I welcomed the recent winter olympic opening ceremonies (hosted in Sochi) with a bit of festive cheer.  We snuggled together in our living room, drinking sbiten, a popular Russian mulled honey (or wine) drink, recipe here:

Sbiten Recipe

And indulged in a little chocolate babka.

As we watched the parade of nations, we cheered the world's greatest athletes.  Undoubtedly, each of them has overcome great odds to reach this competition... yet the question begged itself:  "Which olympians overcame even greater physical odds than their typical counterparts?"

Today's post is dedicated to some of these athletes, who I discovered in my oh-so-humble scientific method of internet surfing.

1. Natalie Du Toit, link here:  Amputee Swimmer
    Ms. Du Toit was the first female amputee in able-bodied olympics.

2. Kieren Perkens, link here:  Swimhero
    Mr. Perkens began swimming at age eight, as rehabilitation for a serious leg injury.  He later became one of the world's greatest long-distance swimmers.

3. Greg Barton, link here:  Gold Medal Kayaker
    Mr. Barton became a double gold olympic winner despite being born with two club feet.

Those featured above are a just a short list- there are many more athletes who have overcome remarkable physical hindrances to excel their full-bodied counterparts.  A popular commercial playing during the current Olympic games recognizes the parents behind today's Olympians.  I think the parents of the Olympians listed above (and those like them) are the true heroes.

This is appropriate timing, as I have recently come to a level of acceptance regarding Hip Chick's physical condition.  As you watch her play, it is obvious that her left leg does not match her right leg's fully mobility.  She obviously favors her right leg.  But it does not slow her down.  She can twirl, climb, and "run" to her own content.  She is happy.  She is capable of achieving what she sets her sights on.

 I have often remarked to people that Hip Chick has the personality and drive to compete despite a physical disability, if that were to be here calling.  As mentioned before, the day she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, her classmates held a race.  Hip Chick was inconsolable that she did not finish first... and she did not finish last.  Exactly what will a little girl who outran her classmates with a dislocated hip achieve? 

Still, it is too early to tell whether she will ever truly "run."  She may never compete for her high school team.  I am confident, however, that she will achieve happiness.  And that is worth cheering for each day. 




 

Post Casting: Two Month Recap

Welcome to our newfound slice of "normalcy."  Two months have passed since cast-off and life has begun to settle a little.  Is life what we imagined it would be?  That is difficult to verbalize... we could not envision what Hip Chick's future would hold.  

Big Sis was at our home this past weekend and we enjoyed what is growing into a tradition... game night!  Big Sis cooked dinner (with a little help) and delighted all with a bit of trickery.  As with many games, things were not exactly as they appeared.  Crushed potato chips masqueraded as breadcrumbs... fruit slithered as snakes... cereal molded into dessert.  Such a far cry from our Saturday nights three months ago.  We look forward to building on this in the coming months!

Below are more recent thoughts.

1.  How is Hip Chick's mobility?

Her gains have slowed, but she still improves incrementally each week.  She still will not bend her left knee while reaching for her left foot, in example, but she does bend it a little more while walking.  She attempts to run, but cannot... it is a very quick walk, though!

2.  How is her transition into the lower preschool class?

This feels like her most difficult class transition to date, as she is able to verbalize that she misses her prior class.  We asked her new teachers for feedback on the transition and they relayed that she spends a significant amount of time in their play kitchen (an interest she comes by honestly) and she is quite good at puzzles.  Mostly, she loves playing with her friends!  Seems like a typical preschooler to us.

3.  What advice do we have to relay from this stage in Hip Chick's DDH treatment plan?

A colleague was recently chatting with me about Hip Chick's hip dysplasia and the subject of unsolicited advice arose.  She remarked that one of the difficult aspects of parenting is, generally speaking, that people tell you how you should raise your children and will offer opinions on just about anything you may do.  She said the wise parents recognize that they alone know their children well enough to make those judgement calls... but will still smile and politely thank others for their advice.

I think that is fantastic advice for we "hip" parents.  Daddy and I received lots of remarks about everything from Hip Chick's habits to her diet and more last year.  Some people thought she carried her pacifier habit for too long, for example... yet, when she dropped it she did so without struggle.  Alternatively, there are some children who barely or never use one and carry a thumb sucking habit into grade school.  

So, do what you believe is best for your child with your head held high!  No one knows your child, especially your "hip" child, better than you.  And that is exactly how it should be.