Another Year already!!!

Well, it has been another year already. Connor continues to excel in everything!! We are gearing up for Connor's next round of surgeries. The date of his surgery has changed once again. Due to the new hospital and their staffing hours his surgery has been changed to July 6, 2016.  So for those who know me I will be putting my 30th birthday on hold until next year;)

This go around we will be lengthening just his Tibia and not the fibula(fibula is too small to ever be lengthened). We will also be correcting the femur where he had the additional break from the 1st lengthening. This will involve straightening the bone with a bone plate. This needs to be done so that Connor can have the Elipse, or Precise, lengthening which is the metal rod inserted inside the leg and no external device is needed. Fixing the break in the femur will actually get another 1.3cm (1/2") in length. As of right now Connor is measuring 11.4 cm(4.5") difference. We are hoping for another 7cm which is just over 2.5". As they told us this lengthening is typically less painful then the femur but please don't let that fool you, we are still expecting a long painful road ahead as this will just introduce different obstacles and challenges that we know Connor will over come in true Connor spirit. We will still have 3 days a week of PT plus our own PT and stretching at home everyday. It will be back to strict schedules of pin care, PT, Stretches, rest and of course all while trying to keep him having fun and in good spirits. Our support system here with family and friends is one I will make sure we use as last time it was terribly hard for Brenden and Macie as well. Maybe some Cardinals baseball games and more quality family time. We are expecting Connor to be in the device until December. I will be working diligently with his school to make sure he is staying with his class and isn't missing much, this will include homebound school on the days he has to leave for PT at Shriners. 

Once we have this lengthening completed he will still have a few more procedures. Connor will be needing another hip osteotomy. Because he is still growing they are concerned with his hip socket and it not being deep enough for the final lengthening of his femur, so before the internal lengthening the will go in and deepen the socket and make his hip more stable. If not he will have major issues with hip dislocation. This will be more discussed once this lengthening is over and healed. At this time there is no concern for his knee(knee instability is very common in PFFD but his knee looks to be pretty stable).This is just giving you an idea of what is left to come.   

So we have 3 weeks to fit in an entire summer this year. We are not doing anything huge as we just are preparing for another intense summer. Kids are all aware of how this summer will be and just like last time we plan on doing something fun and exciting once we all get Connor through this time. I am sure the next time I am updating on here will be Surgery. So lets finish school have a fun month and rock this lengthening just like he did last time!! He is our little super hero!!