Blount's Disease

Blount's Disease-  As I sit and recall the first day that I heard those words, I was nervous, scared, and not sure what I wanted to do. I did not know what it was and I did not know what it meant as far as a normal life. I quickly questioned God as to why? Why my grand doll? ( Isn't it funny how we always think why me in scary situations?

According to doctors at Columbia University Medical Center website, "Blount's disease is a rare growth disorder that affects children, causing the legs to bow outwards just below the knees.  It is also know as tibia vara. A small amount of bowing is actually quite normal in young infants. However, as most children begin to walk, between the ages of 1 and 2 years old, their legs gradually straighten out.
In children with Blount's disease, the lower legs remain bowed or bow further outwards, which can lead to future problems with walking. Blount’s can be seen in a child less than 4 years of age as well as in early adolescents. "

My grand doll had been slightly bowlegged since she was a few months old, but I did not think much of it as many children are bowlegged, but hers' seemed to continually get worse and we finally discussed with the pediatrician and she recommended that we have her checked by a specialist. The specialist recommended surgery, which they say will be the best treatment and should straighten her legs and prevent any more issues. Of course, the idea of my grand doll having surgery at age 2 scared me. The specialist says that this is a minor surgery and that we will really not seem many limitations with her following it. 

The grandma in me says that she is my baby and I don't like it. I know that it needs to be done, but I still don't like it. As I watched her play yesterday, I thought how much I have worried about it this week and she doesn't even know what is going to happen to her. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday of next week. I am thankful in a way that she is small enough to not understand what is happening, but I am also very upset that we are going to take her in for such a thing that she can't understand. She's not going to understand the hospital room, why she has to be on the bed, why she has a nurse taking vitals, etc. The thought of it about gives me an anxiety attack! Will she be scared? She won't know how to tell us! I don't think that I can be in her room when they wheel her back as we will be leaving her with a stranger and that makes me cry just to think of that. She won't understand why we are leaving her. 

I write this to make others aware of this disease and to ask for your prayers for both her and I. This grandma may not make it through the day. Surgery is supposed to last two hours and it is certainly going to be a long two hours. I will update you after the surgery is completed and we are home. Thank you for your thoughts that day!

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