HIP DYSPLASIA: 2 MONTHS AFTER

Two months after the removal of Sam's Hip dysplasia implants, we noticed on how his left leg is measuring up with his right leg. The length is almost the same, because of the femur growing bigger. The size of his left leg is getting bigger also. He can run continuously already where unlike before that he will just trip and end up having wounds on his arms and knees.

It's amazing how time flies. Our son is getting bigger and taller. A lot of our relatives and friends are also amazed on how our son was able to undergo such ordeal. We are confident that in due time, he will be able to play basketball or any sports without us worrying about scoliosis or early arthritis. :)We are thankful and at the same time happy that a lot of friends and relatives supported us. It made it even more easier to cope with the emotional stress that the operation brought to our family.

What's better is that he's able to undergo activities without us worrying of his leg or hip. Being a boy, we want him to be adventurous and try new things. The pictures above are one of his latest adventures with us. We went to Dahilayan, Bukidnon, Philippines to try the latest and longest zipline in Asia right now at 840m. Being a brave boy that our son is, we knew that he'll have plenty of adventures such as this, without him being limited by his hip dysplasia now gone. :)

HIP DYSPLASIA GOODBYE!

As I went home to our province, my wife took our son to see his orthopedic doctor for his final check up. After our son's second major operation on his hip dysplasia, he was hesitant and a bit scared of going. A week of conditioning his mind on why he we had to go back, we thought that it would be easy to convince him. After so many visits to the hospital, injections and medications, it was understandable on why he sort of dreaded on going to see his doctor again. But with my wife's convincing power so to speak, they were able to go.

The doctor had to see our son's wound if it was healing properly. He told us that it would take 2 weeks but given the length of the wound(approximately 6inches), it took an additional 3 days. We thought that he will also require an x-ray but we were surprised when he just checked his wound, removed the suture, and gave us a go. He told us that we'll have to go back for a yearly check-up and x-ray. We were surprised and at the same time very happy of the news!

My wife called me to inform me of the great news and our son hurriedly told me how brave he was and that he can now go swimming on the beach or swimming pool. My wife and I were very happy given the things my son went through. We were thankful also that there were no complications and that he will be free of the early arthritis, scoliosis and other effects of hip dysplasia.

Now we are looking forward for our son's left leg to grow normally and to see him play ball, run, swim or any activity that he wants.

HIP DYSPLASIA: 2nd Major activity

As we approached the end of the second week of our son's post operation from his hip dysplasia, our son, still not allowed to run, jump and play with other kids outside our house, requested that we take him to the movie house and watch Walt Disney's movie UP. As I realized that he hasn't watched a cartoon movie in a movie house yet, I told my son that we will watch the movie together with my wife the following day.

As the big day came, my wife declined to come with us as she was tired from her work. Not to spoil the excitement of our son, we decided that we'll just have a father and son date. Boy I was excited! My son chose his preferred clothes, shoes and hurriedly went to the car. As we were parking our car, he kept on telling me to hurry up as he wanted to watch the movie already. Talk about excitement.

As we went inside the movie house, my son held my hand tightly. He doesn't like dark places and he was looking around the movie house, sort of afraid and excited. As he saw other kids also, he looked at me last then he smiled. We went on to watch the movie and from time to time I look at him, so serious in watching the movie, eating fries, smiling and sometimes laughing at the funny scenes

My son, in the movie house for the first time. The smile on the face of my son made me ecstatic! It made me proud to be a father, spending time with him and having this kind of bonding, watching a movie that he likes. As I was contemplating on how lucky I was, always being there for him in the major events of his life, the hip dysplasia operation, removal of spica cast and implants, 1st horse back ride, 1st basketball game and now this movie date, I can't help but to be thankful that I get to spend time with him always.

The movie runs at around an hour and a half, but it felt like it would go on forever. My son enjoyed the movie so much that he asked me to watch it again. As we were expected by my wife to be home by dinner, we decided to go straight home. As we were leaving the mall, he asked for a last request, a balloon! :)

HIP DYSPLASIA: Fast Forward to 2nd Week

We felt sad for our son during his 1st week of his post operation on his hip dysplasia. Not allowed to run and jump for two weeks,he would just look at his playmates outside our house, go back to our room and watch TV or his favorite cartoons. So bored with his activities that he would want to go with me and my wife even to buy something at the groceries.

So to reward him for not disobeying the doctors' orders, we treated him, his brother and cousins to a horse back riding in the nearby mall. Wow! The look on his face said it all. He was excited! He hurriedly chose his clothes, put on his shoes and went straight to the car.

As we arrived near the place, he was looking at all the horses, started counting and was very excited to go down already. So excited that he went directly to the waiting area, where there were a lot of kids already waiting for their turn to ride. As his time came, he rode the horse without me or even my wife. He was so happy that he didn't even asked us to ride with him, as what the other kids were doing, asking their guardians or parents to go with them. Only the instructor was with him. He went on to ride twice. And when he finished his ride, he was all smiles and were telling us how brave he was and how he loved the horse.

As for me and my wife, we were so happy that we get to spend time with him, see him and his brother enjoy our treat for them.

HIP DYSPLASIA: Post Operation 3rd Day

Our son's energy came at a halt after his 3rd day of his operation on his hip dysplasia. He was having a high fever, cough and colds that started late in the afternoon up to the evening. When we consulted our neighbor who is a pediatrician, she said that it was normal for it to happen especially after operations.

So my son had to stop trying from running and jumping for a day. He wasn't able to eat well also and was even dead tired to watch his favorite Barney and Sponge Bob shows. We were up all night monitoring his fever and made sure that he was warm enough to be able to sleep well and have a proper rest.

Good thing was we were able to change his bandage easily this time. He was just looking at his wound, then he will put his attention in watching TV. After we replaced his bandage, he then said "Finished already! I'm not afraid." After hearing him said that, we knew that he will be fine.