One Year!

We met Suzie just over a year ago! That feels so crazy to say as I clearly remember many days in the early months wishing to be a year into this and wondering what life would be like. Well, it’s pretty darn good!! The one year mark did not trigger any trauma issues with Suzie (people can have traumaversaries) and she is healing and getting braver with her legs every day.

We did get news that one of the rods has migrated and may need to do a small procedure to tap it back into place but it’s not bothering her right now so we are just watching it.

Suzie started scooting around after a couple days out of her brace. After about a week she started going up stairs again and just recently she started climbing on the couch and pushing up to almost standing while holding onto furniture. The exciting thing is that we now get to encourage all of this and don’t have the fear of breaking just from standing!

Last fall we installed an in ground pool to allow Suzie to do water therapy on a regular basis. She was so excited to use the pool again!! This girl loves being in the water which is great because it’s the absolute best thing for her!

Also, for Christmas she got a little stationary bike, but after her femur broke, we hid it away and didn’t even show her. Last week we got it out and it’s a hit and will be wonderful therapy for her and the game that it shows on the iPad helps her learn her letters...two for one!

She also was able to get her smo ankle braces. We just got them and are gradually getting her used to wearing them. 

We love to look back and see how far we all have come!

bike trainer

Suzie taking her meds

The nurses at the hospital were all impressed with Suzie and how well she took her meds. 

Suzie Singing "Finger Family"

Suzie playing guitar

Pre-surgery Goofiness!

Suzie was very anxious before surgery, but they gave her some pretty good meds, as you can see...

No More Brace!

No brace today!! 

This is the first day without a brace or cast since 12/22...7.5 weeks ago! Also, prior to that she was only out of a cast for 10 days before her femur fractured. We can’t even remember what it’s like to see both of these little legs!

We are very hopeful that she will have a longer time without a cast now. 
Suzie’s doing very well and her legs look great! Her stitches are healing well and will be minimal over time. Her X-rays look just beautiful!! 😍 I was heartbroken the first time I saw her little femurs back last April and realized what was going on underneath her skin. She looked so normal, and we didn’t know that her bones were so bent and it was only a matter of when they’d break rather than if. But now they are nice and straight and ready to heal as strong as they can be! I should mention that she is still at high risk of fractures and her bones will always break more easily, but now that they are straight they do not have the extra pressure on them any time she stands and if they do break, they will not be displaced (where the bone is separated and out of its normal position).
Suzie was not excited to take her brace off and it will be a gradual process getting her comfortable without it. We will also have to work to strengthen her legs and her muscles have atrophied a lot.

not excited about getting brace off

Lion Dance

We checked out a Lion Dance at a local Asian marketplace today for Chinese New Year. Suzie was interested but then got super scared when the lions came out. It was a total freak out- screaming like she thought they were going to eat her! I guess her front row spot wasn’t so good after all. 🤦‍♀️ We moved her away and Brian held her which calmed her down. Hopefully next year is better, but the rest of us liked it!