There's cheek, and there's attitude, and we're loving it.
While Katelyn emerged from her spica cast in August 2012, and started to walk again less than one month later, we're reminded everyday that our DDH journey is far from over.
Physically, Katelyn, is perfect. She can run, has started to jump, and displays awesome flexibility and strength.
However, when she was two and half, alarm bells started to ring signalling that things were possibly not quite right.
As a girl, and the younger sibling to two big brothers, we had expected her speech development to be at last on par, or to overtake, that exhibited by Will and Harry at similar ages. But, at 2 and a half, and still not really talking, we began to worry that something was up with our lovely daughter. This was compounded by endless tears and tantrums (usually hers, but sometimes mine) as she attempted, and failed, to vocalise what she needed.
The rehabilitation process began about three months ago. It turns out that Katelyn is suffering from a mild speech delay - possibly (but, most likely, in my opinion) resulting from the trauma of her surgery at 20mo for late-diagnosed developmental hip dysplasia. My theory is that while in her cast for those three months, she missed some critical physical developmental milestones, which, in turn, impacted her development in terms of communication and language. There's no medical science or theory to back this up (at least that I'm aware of), but her therapist agrees with my hypothesis.
And so began, back in June, our journey to bring our little girl out of her shell. We're seeing the fabulous Sally, through Hunter-New England Health, and I'm beyond pleased to report that our strategy of positive reinforcement and repetition-repetition-repetition ("Yes, Katelyn, you're right, that is a CAR! It's a CAR- a shiny red CAR! Look at that CAR! It's fun to drive in that CAR!") is working a treat! I've also taken a family/lifestyle-driven career break, and I believe Katelyn is benefiting from the extra one-on-one time with Mummy and/or Daddy.
Our initial monthly appointments have been stretched out to visits every second month in recognition of the great progress our beautiful daughter in making. And now, as Katie has not long turned three, it's a joy to be able to engage in a real conversation with her - perhaps not such a big deal for parents of other kids her age - but it means the world to us. There's plenty of attitude, spirit, character and assurances that "Mummy, I KNOW!", but it's music to our ears and a source of warmth to our hearts.
I realised with a jolt this week that I hadn't actually updated my Blog with the good news we received back at Katelyn's six-month check-up. I mean, I'd updated my Facebook friends, but neglected to make note on my Blog THAT WE ARE OFF THE DDH HOOK...well, until next January, anyway.
We left our appointment with dazed, silly smiles on our faces and shaking our heads about how lucky we've been.
Katelyn's hip is stable and the blood supply to the area has either re-established or was more visible in this round of x-rays.
The surgeon is very happy with her progress, and we left with instructions to book back in to see him in a year's time. He was almost apologetic about our having to have annual checkups at least until she's ten years' old - but, seriously, who cares!?!!?!? When we started this journey almost a year ago, the surgeons made it very clear that this was the start of a long relationship with the pediatric orthopaedic clinic. Yes, the parking at the John's a pain in the you-know-what, but it's a small price to pay for our beautiful girl to remain free of pain and be able to enjoy an active, happy childhood.
Baby Ballet, here we come!
...but lots of dreaming.
But, they're not the good kind.
We have Katelyn's six-month checkup with Dr's Ho and Tewari on Thursday, where we'll find out how her hip is looking (please let it still be in place) and if the previously-diminishing blood supply to the area has miraculously managed to reestablish itself over the past four months' since our last checkup.
It's been a tricky few months while we 'wait and see'.
The surgeons reckon we'll know, one way or the other, on Thursday. Katelyn will have another supervised x-ray and they'll be looking for a condition called avascular necrosis (AVN) - in simple terms - a loss of blood flow to the hip joint, which would, eventually, cause it to lose all mobility and die. Our last x-ray suggested a hint of the condition back in October, but the condition can sometimes correct itself, so we're beyond hopeful for that.
DDH continues to be a roller-coaster. On one side, we have what we've affectionately termed, 'the running girl' - our Kate doesn't walk anywhere, she runs - perhaps because for the sheer exhilaration and joy. We watch her like a hawk for the primary symptom of AVN - excruciating muscle soreness or stiffness - but, as we know, this is the girl who lived with the pain of an undiagnosed dislocated hip until her operation at 20 months, so we know that beyond the angelic face and the cheeky smile, there's a fighting spirit and unwavering stoicism. So many people share their delight in her achievements and her recovery, and I smile and agree - but, the reality is, I'm shit-scared about the potential AVN - and, especially, my inability to protect her from its development. Her operations, so far, have possibly just been service stops on the long surgical road to recovery, and I guess in the wakeful hours before dawn I'm yelling in my nightmares, "Stop the car, I'm wanna be sick!".
Till Thursday....xxx
There's cheek, and there's attitude, and we're loving it.
While Katelyn emerged from her spica cast in August 2012, and started to walk again less than one month later, we're reminded everyday that our DDH journey is far from over.
And so began, back in June, our journey to bring our little girl out of her shell. We're seeing the fabulous Sally, through Hunter-New England Health, and I'm beyond pleased to report that our strategy of positive reinforcement and repetition-repetition-repetition ("Yes, Katelyn, you're right, that is a CAR! It's a CAR- a shiny red CAR! Look at that CAR! It's fun to drive in that CAR!") is working a treat! I've also taken a family/lifestyle-driven career break, and I believe Katelyn is benefiting from the extra one-on-one time with Mummy and/or Daddy.
Our initial monthly appointments have been stretched out to visits every second month in recognition of the great progress our beautiful daughter in making. And now, as Katie has not long turned three, it's a joy to be able to engage in a real conversation with her - perhaps not such a big deal for parents of other kids her age - but it means the world to us. There's plenty of attitude, spirit, character and assurances that "Mummy, I KNOW!", but it's music to our ears and a source of warmth to our hearts.
