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Hello everyone, I’m Angela Harris, Cooper James’ mother.
Us a whole, as a family; we don’t like to ask for help no matter cost or need. But this situation is very much different from any other I’ve (and most other parents) have not been faced with.
When I was 22 and a half week pregnant, a moment I’ll never forget, I had my baby anatomy scan, thinking everything was going to be perfect nothing bad crossed my mind. Until that ultrasound technician told me she needs to go get the head doctor immediately before she speaks to us.
My heart dropped. Something was wrong.
The main doctor at the fetal medicine area at Baystate Hospital in Springfield Massachusetts told me my babies whole knee cap was turned 180 degrees, which essentially saying; his knee will bend up; not back. And only three toes on each foot with a 180 degree turn out as well; which again.. means backwards.
That night I went to Boston Children’s Hospital within a couple hours, freaking out, panicking for my child. They took us in immediately.
We were then informed that the turn in the knee is 90 degrees outwards and the feet most definitely 180 degrees turned outwards as well.
I faced the decision.. do I keep my baby? Do I do this to him? Am I selfish if I keep him? Did I just want him too much?
It wasn’t selfish. My baby deserved life and I gave him just that.
Fast forward to June 19, 2019. My baby boy was born 3 weeks early but as healthy as could be. With all of his toes. But still a 180 degree foot turn out. They were legitimately backwards and all I could do was sob not knowing the future my child could have.
After seeing Shriners hospital of Springfield Massachusetts we found out he has a literal one in a million congenital leg disease called “tibial hemimelia” which in layman’s terms means his main shin bone is noticeably shorter than it should be but with a normal fibula which is what causes the turn out.
They look me dead in my eyes and told me amputation will be our best option.
Absolutely not. I will not allow that.
By chance, by the grace of god, I found Doctor Dror Paley, an orthopedic surgeon who has spent that last 30 years of his life saving children like cooper from full blown above the knee amputation.
Doctor Paley and his institution are located in West Palm Beach, Florida. It isn’t incredulous to go there and it isn’t extremely far. But with 2 children under 2, it will be harder.
My grandmother who is fighting terminal lung cancer told me she’d pay every dime since insurance WILL NOT cover out of state appointments or any procedure.
My grandma does NOT deserve this burden with what else is going on in her life. I can’t rightfully ask for all that money.
I made this in hopes that this will find people’s hearts who are pure and helpful and willing to help a 3 month old baby keep his own legs.
We did not expect a dime to come of this, or even enough for the visits. But some travel and stay and copays would help us tremendously.
i hate asking for this; but this is for my child, not me, and I will do whatever I can to make this right.
#oneinamillion
#cooperstale
Us a whole, as a family; we don’t like to ask for help no matter cost or need. But this situation is very much different from any other I’ve (and most other parents) have not been faced with.
When I was 22 and a half week pregnant, a moment I’ll never forget, I had my baby anatomy scan, thinking everything was going to be perfect nothing bad crossed my mind. Until that ultrasound technician told me she needs to go get the head doctor immediately before she speaks to us.
My heart dropped. Something was wrong.
The main doctor at the fetal medicine area at Baystate Hospital in Springfield Massachusetts told me my babies whole knee cap was turned 180 degrees, which essentially saying; his knee will bend up; not back. And only three toes on each foot with a 180 degree turn out as well; which again.. means backwards.
That night I went to Boston Children’s Hospital within a couple hours, freaking out, panicking for my child. They took us in immediately.
We were then informed that the turn in the knee is 90 degrees outwards and the feet most definitely 180 degrees turned outwards as well.
I faced the decision.. do I keep my baby? Do I do this to him? Am I selfish if I keep him? Did I just want him too much?
It wasn’t selfish. My baby deserved life and I gave him just that.
Fast forward to June 19, 2019. My baby boy was born 3 weeks early but as healthy as could be. With all of his toes. But still a 180 degree foot turn out. They were legitimately backwards and all I could do was sob not knowing the future my child could have.
After seeing Shriners hospital of Springfield Massachusetts we found out he has a literal one in a million congenital leg disease called “tibial hemimelia” which in layman’s terms means his main shin bone is noticeably shorter than it should be but with a normal fibula which is what causes the turn out.
They look me dead in my eyes and told me amputation will be our best option.
Absolutely not. I will not allow that.
By chance, by the grace of god, I found Doctor Dror Paley, an orthopedic surgeon who has spent that last 30 years of his life saving children like cooper from full blown above the knee amputation.
Doctor Paley and his institution are located in West Palm Beach, Florida. It isn’t incredulous to go there and it isn’t extremely far. But with 2 children under 2, it will be harder.
My grandmother who is fighting terminal lung cancer told me she’d pay every dime since insurance WILL NOT cover out of state appointments or any procedure.
My grandma does NOT deserve this burden with what else is going on in her life. I can’t rightfully ask for all that money.
I made this in hopes that this will find people’s hearts who are pure and helpful and willing to help a 3 month old baby keep his own legs.
We did not expect a dime to come of this, or even enough for the visits. But some travel and stay and copays would help us tremendously.
i hate asking for this; but this is for my child, not me, and I will do whatever I can to make this right.
#oneinamillion
#cooperstale