We found out Jane had hip dysplasia when she was about 3-4 months. We had suspicion earlier on because her right foot would always be up next to her right ear. If she wasn't swaddled, thats where her foot automatically would go. So she had an x ray done around 3-4 months and the doctors confirmed she had hip dysplasia but in her LEFT foot, her right foot was totally fine just flexible. Hip Dysplasia means, the foot isn't in the hip socket. It doesn't cause pain in children but it can cause a lot of pain later on in life if not fixed. We decided we wanted it fixed. Jane was still not walking at this point and because her leg wasn't in the socket, it caused a leg length difference. We knew that if we wanted her to walk, this was something we needed to do. It took us 3 months to see the hip specialist and talk about the procedure. By that time, Jane just got done with her clubfoot surgery, so the doctor wanted to put this surgery off until Jane was wearing the shoes and bar for only 12 hours a day.
Jane had her hip dysplasia surgery in May, just right after her 1st birthday. This was her third surgery. The surgery lasted a little longer then expected, 4 hours I believe. I waited for her in the waiting room. I just sat their and prayed and prayed. It's scary to give your child into someone else hands as they operate on your child. I prayed for the doctor, all the nurses and technicians, for God to give them wisdom on how to proceed and to not make any mistakes. Weeks prior to the surgery, I remember praying for the doctor, to make sure he'd get plenty of rest before Jane's surgery. That he wouldn't be stressed out about anything and to be fully focused on Jane's surgery. God did all that. Jane's surgery went well. I was able to go see her in the recovery room. She was in a full body cast. (from the chest to her feet) She was just waking up from her general anesthesia. She was crying and in so much pain. I took her in my arms, it was hard to figure out how to hold her comfortably. The cast was so bulky, she couldn't sit up or move her legs. I'd get her to calm down for 5 minutes and she'd cry in pain again. The nurse gave her a few different pain medications, but nothing was really helping. She wouldn't calm down. My husband ended up getting off work and coming down to the hospital to be with us. We stayed with Jane at the hospital over night. The nurse had to monitor her pain. Im so glad that we stayed. It was a tough night. She wasn't able to roll over like she used to, she couldn't sit up. Jane was discharged the following day. She got a special carseat. Her feet were spread like you're doing the splits, so she needed a carseat that had no sides. The hospital provided us with one. Once we got home, I knew we needed to make the house comfortable for Jane. She no longer fitted in her stroller, swing, high chair, nothing. So I needed to modify things around my house for her. I bought a bumbo chair on offerup and cut the sides off and made a chair for Jane. Then I bought a jumper also used, cut the frame and turned it into a swing that opens a certain way for Jane to fit it. My in laws bought Jane a bike trailer, and we used that as a stroller. My husband made a seat for her out of different wedges and then I sewed a cover for it. Our friends let us borrow a carrier. We had to get creative. There was no letting her play on the floor or crawling, walking, nothing. She was held ALL day. This was also during summer season; so we had to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day. If it was too hot for her, she would sweat and the cast would itch her and she would get cranky. She had to be in the cast for 3 months (the whole summer) No baths, no swimming at the lake. At night, she still had to wear her shoes and bar for her clubfeet.
After Jane's pain was under control, she did well with the cast. She was such a trooper. She started to smile again and we were able to figure out how to entertain her. The hardest thing for me was not being able to do a lot of things with my other kids. It was summer and usually summer, were off camping, swimming, splash parks, etc. We were always outside during summer. But since Jane couldn't be outside much, I felt bad for my other kids. If I take them swimming, then Jane is miserable and she wants to get in the water but doesn't understand why she can't get her cast wet. It was hard emotionally. I wanted to do everything I can to give my older kids a fun/ normal summer and at the same time, I wanted to make Jane's situation as much comfortable for her as possible. I don't know if that makes any sense. My older kids were very understanding of the situation and very sweet about it. My husband and my in laws would take the older kids swimming and I'm grateful for it. I just felt bad that we couldn't do simple things like going swimming as a WHOLE family. Half way through summer, my husband went to California for some classes and I ended up getting sick. I think it was just my body telling me I needed a break. I couldn't get out of bed. I have no strength. My feet were so weak and in so much pain. I couldn't do anything. I've never experienced something like this before. For me, I have a hard time asking for help. I feel like when I ask for help, Im admitting Im a failure and sometimes I just don't want to be a burden to others. I'm the type of person who bears down and pretends everything is fine. I called my husband because at that point I just didn't know what to do. I had no strength. and Jane needed to be held. She needed attention 24/7. My husband called around and got people to come and help watch the kids while I recovered. I stayed in bed for a whole week. Every day someone different came to my house and watched the kids. It was hard for me to lay in bed, I felt so guilty that I couldn't take care of my own kids. I was grateful for all the help. As I laid in bed, I prayed asking God what He wanted me to learn from this situation. Quickly I got my answer. God wants us to help each other in times of struggle. Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." When you ask someone for help, you are giving them an opportunity to serve God and share Christ's love with you. God designed the body of believers to work together and help one another. I never looked at asking for help like that before. I always loved helping others, but felt so uncomfortable when I received help. Sometimes God helps us by doing things Himself and sometimes God helps us through other people. We must never be afraid to ask for help.
Mid August Jane got her cast off and was in a brace. She had to wear
the brace for 3 weeks 24/7. It was a nice transition. She was in a lot of pain if she tired to move her legs. I was so excited to just be able to give her a bath. She would have a bath 3-4x a day. It was her favorite thing to do and I didn't mind. I loved seeing her smile and splash around.
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| Jane after her Hip Surgery |
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| Going home after the surgery |
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| Her cast |
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