It’s been such a long time since I managed to blog and such a lot of things have happened. I have two new nephews and they are both getting on OK. They were born eight weeks early and the youngest has had problems but is fighting hard, the bigger one is out of hospital and making good progress. My job is going well and I feel like I am getting to grips with it and I have made myself some plans for writing but I am struggling to keep up with those, deadlines keep getting moved backwards!
If it my little Imp that is causing the most concern. He was diagnosed with a condition of the hip called Perthe’s and this affects the femoral head. We researched and felt we had a good understanding of the condition and were prepared to deal with the physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and mobility impairments that would result for the next couple of years. We attended his most recent appointment with the consultant just last week, and in line with expectations we were told that his femoral head had continued to deteriorate. What we weren’t expecting was a recommendation for surgery as it is now feared that the bone, when it enters the regrowth stage is that it won’t grow correctly.
So it was with trepidation that we journey to another different hospital yesterday to see a consultant for a second opinion as our usual one didn’t want to commit to surgery until this had happened, this consultant concurred. He described the hip as not in a good place, the Perthes as severe and his movement very restricted, we had been aware of the downwards trend for out Imp as he is struggling to walk far and can’t keep up and has been asking to use his wheelchair more often! Thank you to the people who helped us traverse stairs with the wheelchair as it helped us out. Next week Imp has to undergo a surgical procedure for diagnostic purposes, dye will be injected and his range of moments tested under anaesthetic so that his suitability for surgery can be checked.
If surgery is then considered his best option then another bigger operation will follow and this will render him pretty much immobile for six to eight weeks as he will be in a double leg cast! For him, this is of course a very scary proposition and the outcomes of far from guaranteed! Like anything waiting is the worst thing, at least when you know what you are facing you can find ways of coping with what is going to follow, until then your mind can only run away with the different possibilities and outcomes.
Life has changed, we are no longer simply getting up and going off somewhere for an adventure during the holidays, we have to check if Imp can participate, if there is something he can do that won’t upset him as it reminds him of what he can’t do. Of course, there is the light at the end of the tunnel, that even with surgery he should heal and be able to exercise again in a couple of years, but for a 7, nearly 8 year old boy that is a long time not to be playing football with his friends, or going to a party and even running around in the park. It occurred to us watching him trying to play in the garden with a ball how much life had changed. There was a time when he would unthinkingly fling himself about on the ground, taking no care, now every movement is considered and he often guards when out and about to avoid his joints hurting.
Hpops and Pixie as well have had to adjust to what he can now do, as well as attending hospital appointment and sometimes missing out on things they want to do because we need to attend various appointments. So it is that we approach Easter with fear and hope about next week, that I vow once again to try and write more, work more and be happy with the kids but at the same time know that for the time being things here have changed and we need to use our strength to get him through!
I should also say thank you to all those who have stuck with us, helped out with the kids, talked me through things and shared their positive stories and thoughts and included my little Imp in things so he doesn’t feel so isolated! One thing you learn when your family faces adversity, there are those that stick by you, step up to the plate and help out and those that fade into the background, I only hope that for those that step up I can return the favour, sometimes just a hug or a kind words is enough and I am grateful for everything people have done to help. I try to face the future in a positive manner and hope that we can guide him through this with the minimum amount of pain and that it makes us a stronger family.
