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Ten little fingers and nine little toes, our Katherine is perfect and that's how she grows.
Katherine was born with a somewhat rare condition known as Fibular Hemimelia. There is no known cause, and it is believed to be a result of either a genetic component, a mutation in fetal development, or a combination of both.
When she was born, she was missing a toe on her left foot. No big deal the doctors assured us, and like all new parents, we accepted this beautiful, healthy child without concern. However, within a couple weeks, it was apparent that it was not as simple as needing to buy two seperate-sized shoes. Her left leg was growing at a noticeably slower rate than her right.
We were lucky enough to get a referral to Shriner's Hospital in Tampa, FL. We cannot praise this facility enough. After x-rays and nail biting, we were given her official diagnosis and told that we would have a difficult road ahead.
Long ago, besides a lift on a shoe (which she currently has worn since the moment she took her first steps), the only other option in severe cases would be amputation. Through grace beyond our understanding, we were lucky enough to discover Dr. Paley and the Paley Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. A world-renowned doctor with decades of experience offered us hope for Katherine to live a fully functional, normal life. Through an algorithum he developed, Katherine will be able to undergo limb-lengthening surgery that will effectively correct her discrepency. If not treated, her case would likely result in a 6.5 cm. discrepency requiring her to wear a lift the rest of her life, increasing the possibilities of hip and back problems, and ending her budding passion for gymanstics.
So in June 2016, we will be uprooting our family for 9 weeks to visit the Paley Institute so the doctors can perform part 1 of her surgery. It is a lengthy process that requires mandatory rehabilitation at their on-location facility. They will be adding approximately 2 inches to her left fibia and correcting mobility issues in her ankle. While initially painful, our Katherine is a fighter and we have every confidence this is the best path for her. While we love her fancy foot and everything it represents, we believe that correcting this will help her avoid serious back and hip problems as she develops.
It is our hope that the $10,000 we wish to raise will cover Katherine's medical expenses for the procedures not covered by insurance, as well as her 9 weeks of rehabilitation, along with the additional housing costs that will result from having to relocate our family for the duration of her time with Dr. Craig Robbins (Dr. Paley's colleague). If you have any questions regarding the amazing work and miracles the Paley Institute is performing daily, please click the link below. In the meantime, we appreciate any contribution you can make and all positive thoughts as we go forward with such a life-altering surgery for our perfect little Katherine.
http://www.paleyinstitute.org/
Katherine was born with a somewhat rare condition known as Fibular Hemimelia. There is no known cause, and it is believed to be a result of either a genetic component, a mutation in fetal development, or a combination of both.
When she was born, she was missing a toe on her left foot. No big deal the doctors assured us, and like all new parents, we accepted this beautiful, healthy child without concern. However, within a couple weeks, it was apparent that it was not as simple as needing to buy two seperate-sized shoes. Her left leg was growing at a noticeably slower rate than her right.
We were lucky enough to get a referral to Shriner's Hospital in Tampa, FL. We cannot praise this facility enough. After x-rays and nail biting, we were given her official diagnosis and told that we would have a difficult road ahead.
Long ago, besides a lift on a shoe (which she currently has worn since the moment she took her first steps), the only other option in severe cases would be amputation. Through grace beyond our understanding, we were lucky enough to discover Dr. Paley and the Paley Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. A world-renowned doctor with decades of experience offered us hope for Katherine to live a fully functional, normal life. Through an algorithum he developed, Katherine will be able to undergo limb-lengthening surgery that will effectively correct her discrepency. If not treated, her case would likely result in a 6.5 cm. discrepency requiring her to wear a lift the rest of her life, increasing the possibilities of hip and back problems, and ending her budding passion for gymanstics.
So in June 2016, we will be uprooting our family for 9 weeks to visit the Paley Institute so the doctors can perform part 1 of her surgery. It is a lengthy process that requires mandatory rehabilitation at their on-location facility. They will be adding approximately 2 inches to her left fibia and correcting mobility issues in her ankle. While initially painful, our Katherine is a fighter and we have every confidence this is the best path for her. While we love her fancy foot and everything it represents, we believe that correcting this will help her avoid serious back and hip problems as she develops.
It is our hope that the $10,000 we wish to raise will cover Katherine's medical expenses for the procedures not covered by insurance, as well as her 9 weeks of rehabilitation, along with the additional housing costs that will result from having to relocate our family for the duration of her time with Dr. Craig Robbins (Dr. Paley's colleague). If you have any questions regarding the amazing work and miracles the Paley Institute is performing daily, please click the link below. In the meantime, we appreciate any contribution you can make and all positive thoughts as we go forward with such a life-altering surgery for our perfect little Katherine.
http://www.paleyinstitute.org/