I've had a lot of support from people regarding Annabelle and her hip dysplasia. It's been an opportunity to educate people as well, as it's not a very well known condition.
The day Annabelle got her harness I posted a picture of her on facebook in her PH. I figure if I'm going to go on this journey, I'd rather have people know about it than hide it. The biggest blessing from doing that, was having my friend Davinne respond with "my daughter was in the Pavlik Harness last year, let me know if you have any questions." Little did she know how many I had.
I looked back through her albums of her daughter when she was in the PH - I got ideas for dressing Annabelle. I learned that babylegs work over the leg straps (and subsequenly keep them clean). I learned you *can* put a sleeper (babygrow) over the PH. You can put a onesie over it. After that, dressing her seemed a bit more exciting - she had a few more options for outfits.
Davinne and I messaged back and forth a few times, and I told her I'd love to get together to ask her questions. After a week passed and nothing had worked out so far ... She is our family veterinarian, and it turns out my dog was due for her annual vaccines, so I made an appointment for my dog to see her, and took Annabelle. She was an angel and stayed after my appointment to sit with me and answer questions.
She reminisced about her daughter in the PH with tears and emotions that I have been feeling for weeks. It made me feel less guilty for feeling them. It was reassuring to know that I was not alone in my grief over my daughter's (curable) condition. That even though there are much worse things out there, it's still difficult when it's your own child. That knowing this is what your child needs and hating every minute of it ... is normal ... and okay. We cried together. It was sooooooo peaceful to know that I was not alone - I *am* not alone. Knowing that she had been through this, and after 12 weeks in the PH and 8 weeks in a different brace, her daughter "graduated" with healthy hips was so reassuring to me. The thought of hearing those words makes me tear up even writing this. Healthy hips.
One day we will hear those words for Annabelle. And I will cry. But many other families will experience these feelings. And it's normal. These shoes have been worn before. And they will be worn again.
Hi Ashley, I just found your blog today. I just had our third child a week ago and while still in the hospital they found that her left hip completely dislocates with the slightest rotation. We have to go to an orthopedist next week and we've been told to expect to have to use the harness for 4-6 months. I have two other children with medical issues, my first being the worst with 13 surgeries and ongoing medical and physical challenges and my second has had 2 surgeries to correct kidney defects. Everyone thinks that since I have already been through all of that then the hip issue should be no big deal and something I should just get over. But I can't. When I read your blog I sat there and cried my eyes out because you have put into words exactly what I have been feeling the last few days. I think that we are very similar mommas because I too cloth diaper and love baby wearing. I had been told that we would not be able to cloth diaper or babywear while our daughter is in the harness and I was devastated. I was so relieved to see your posts about both subjects and it gave me hope that we too can CD and babywear! This is going to be a journey for us and I know that it will not be easy. So thank you for writing this blog. You have really helped me today to feel a little better about our CDH diagnosis.
ReplyDelete~Amanda Waggoner
amandawaggoner@hotmail.com