Donation protected
Elijah’s Loving Little Legs
Elijah is my nephew. He is an active 6yr old boy with a huge smile and a gracious heart. He lives in Peoria AZ with his parents, Julia and Justin Atwood, and his 3yr old sister Abigail. Most 6yr old boys are on the move, but Elijah has a motor that keeps him in constant motion. Over the past few years he began to experience mobility issues and following a multitude of medical specialist appointments, he finally received a diagnosis and a recommended treatment. I believe this is best described by his father, so I have included it below.
On August 2, 2018 Elijah is scheduled for bilateral hip surgery that will require a lengthy period (6-8 weeks) of restricted mobility. He will not be able to stand or walk until healing is complete. A very difficult time for a little boy who is used to chasing (or running away from) his little sister! Even with medical insurance all of Elijah’s health care costs are not covered.
Family & friends suggested a GOFUNDME page to tell Elijah’s story. Justin has created a BlogSpot to keep everyone up to date on Elijah’s progress. See link below.
Julia & Justin wanted to share some thoughts they had on using any funds that might be raised for Elijah:
"A portion of the money raised will be used for the mounting medical expenses, and possibly even helping to cover some of his future medical expenses (medical equipment, follow up appointments, the surgery to take out the plates, etc.). But, we also know that people want to help us make this a special time for him and to help make him more comfortable and to make it as fun as possible. So, we'll also use some of this money to buy things that will do just that. We may buy some things like bean bag chairs, or a power wheels he can drive around himself for going on walks. We may go to the movies, or go out for ice cream. Or, maybe we'll take him on a special trip when this is all over, to celebrate his recovery. Honestly, we don't know what exactly we'll need or when we'll need it, but having some things in place for the right time will be helpful."
Thank you in advance for reading Elijah’s story and for any support you choose to offer to Elijah and his family.
Your thoughts and prayers for Elijah are deeply appreciated.
Here's a link to Justin's Blogspot
https://walkwithelijah.family.blog/
Elijah, Justin, Julia & Abigail Atwood
Elijah’s Story by Justin Atwood:
What can I say about Elijah? This is a bit tricky, cause he's really a mini version of myself in so many ways. That's both amazing and a bit scary at the same time.
Let me jump back in time a few years just to give a little more context. When I was a kid, I noticed some things with my body that just didn't seem to work quite right or just weren't very comfortable. This got more noticeable as I got older and I could eventually see that this wasn't normal when seeing what my peers could do. When I was 15 my mom and I drove to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota where I underwent a few days of testing, x-rays, appointments, and consultations. At the end of it they told me that I had spondylometaphyseal dysplasia. At that point there was nothing that could be done for me, other than managing my condition. I also remember them talking a bit about the genetics of it all. I don't remember everything they said, but I do remember them telling me that there was a chance I could pass it to my kids.
Fast forward about 30 years. Ever since Elijah was born, he was always on the small side. Every time he'd go through a checkup, they'd tell us what percentile he was in, and he was always at the low end. We knew he was starting out like me, but we didn't know just what all that would mean. As he's grown, we've noticed more and more that he was having issues primarily with his legs and more specifically with his hips. When he walks or runs, he waddles. When he sits cross-legged, his knees stick up in the air. When he sits for a while, he walks like a little old man when starting out. And he just doesn't have much stamina with his legs before they start getting tired and sore. We knew this wasn't good, but we didn't know if there was anything we could do about it.
So, we scheduled an appointment at Phoenix Children's Hospital to get him checked out. I won't get into all of the details, but after about two years of many different appointments, x-rays, and doctors we heard what we were expecting. He had it too. But they were also able to give us a more specific diagnosis. It's spondylometaphyseal dysplasia - Sutcliffe type (or corner fracture type). They're able to diagnose it as such because this type produces what look like tiny fractures on the edges of some of the bones. These apparently go away after puberty, which is likely why they didn't see them in me when I was checked out. But now, what to do?
The most obvious issue they could see was the coxa Vara in his hips, and they let us know about a procedure they could do to help restore his hip joints to the correct angle. This is called a valgus osteotomy. It involves cutting his femurs and then fixing the cut femur and necks together with metal plates that hold them at the correct angle. The bones then heal back together at this angle, and then n after a year, they take the plates out.
He'll have this procedure done on August 2nd.
If there's something that we can do to help him live a better life and/or to at least lessen some of the issues he'll have later in life, we want to do it. But it's hard, especially as we're so close.
He'll be unable to put any weight on his legs for 6-8 weeks, which for any 6 year old boy would be tough. Then he'll have physical therapy. What happens after that? We hope that life will hopefully be back to (mostly) normal, but with some improvement.
How will he handle this? I don't know. I'd love to say that he's going to face it down without any fear and power through the the pain, but I just don't know know. This is new for all of us, and no matter how you look at it, it's scary.
We're doing out best to make this a positive experience for him. We want to provide some new and fun things for him after the surgery and eventually take him out to do some fun things (In his wheelchair). Hopefully, we can do a decent job of getting his mind off of things at least somewhat, and when he remembers this 30 years from now, he'll remember all the good things.
So, back to the original question. What can I say about Elijah? He's our special little man. He's both defender of and defender against his little sister (depending on the moment). He's a thinker who is always looking for someone to tell his grand plans and ideas. He's creative. Whether it's making something new out of Legos, trying to build bridges for his trains, or just working on a project just to figure out what he can do with it, he's always working on something. He likes cars, trains, trucks, planes, or anything that has an engine. He enjoys science experiments and fun games. He likes to be outside swimming, riding his bike or scooter, or just digging holes and crushing rocks with a hammer. He likes to work with his hands and make things, or make things happen.
He loves his family. He loves to play with his cousins and friends. He loves being a 6 year old boy.
And we love him, more than words could ever say.
God knew exactly what he was doing when he made Elijah, and we know that there is a great plan for his life. We're grateful that God let us be His parents and we pray that God uses this in ways that we could never even imagine.
Justin Atwood
A few words from a loving Mom:
"What is a mother to say about such an amazing son as Elijah. Don't get me wrong he isn't perfect and even more so neither am I; however as his mother I am inclined to think he is the best there is. God has gifted Elijah with this inner need for human conversation. It may sound strange but he is a boy who needs to speak!! The words just flow out of him. I was always told that men expressed themselves in as few words as possible but that certainly isn't true about our little boy. I am constantly amazed at how easily he greets people or even asks how their day is going. Most adults are so taken aback that they can hardly answer but that doesn't stop him he just plows right ahead with the conversation. I have come to see it as a beautiful gift that makes up my beautiful boy. It really isn't anything Justin and I have done, God has just created him in such a way that he craves words (LOTS and LOTS of words). I would have to say though that through this journey we have been on these last two years he has been quiet. At Doctor's appointments I have seen him shrink back into himself rather than be the confident wordy boy we are used to. That has been hard but when asked after such appointments if he has any questions or needs help understanding something he has nothing to say. It has been hard not knowing what he is thinking (since this rarely happens). Despite it all he continues to be his remarkable self. After each appointment he just picks up where he left off and never misses a beat. I am just in awe at how God works. He created my boy and said "it is good." Though his body isn't perfect God still calls his creation "good" and I second that emotion. I know the road ahead won’t be particularly easy for Elijah and that as he gets older he will have more pain in his joints but I know even more that God has given him this amazing personality that will allow him to cope with it just as his father does. I am so thankful for my boy and all the craziness that makes up who he is. There is so much I can say about my son from his cute little swagger down to his amazing LEGO skills but the most important thing about him is that God made him and loves him more than Justin or I could and He has amazing plans for our little boy’s life and all the words that are waiting to come forth.
Julia Atwood
Elijah is my nephew. He is an active 6yr old boy with a huge smile and a gracious heart. He lives in Peoria AZ with his parents, Julia and Justin Atwood, and his 3yr old sister Abigail. Most 6yr old boys are on the move, but Elijah has a motor that keeps him in constant motion. Over the past few years he began to experience mobility issues and following a multitude of medical specialist appointments, he finally received a diagnosis and a recommended treatment. I believe this is best described by his father, so I have included it below.
On August 2, 2018 Elijah is scheduled for bilateral hip surgery that will require a lengthy period (6-8 weeks) of restricted mobility. He will not be able to stand or walk until healing is complete. A very difficult time for a little boy who is used to chasing (or running away from) his little sister! Even with medical insurance all of Elijah’s health care costs are not covered.
Family & friends suggested a GOFUNDME page to tell Elijah’s story. Justin has created a BlogSpot to keep everyone up to date on Elijah’s progress. See link below.
Julia & Justin wanted to share some thoughts they had on using any funds that might be raised for Elijah:
"A portion of the money raised will be used for the mounting medical expenses, and possibly even helping to cover some of his future medical expenses (medical equipment, follow up appointments, the surgery to take out the plates, etc.). But, we also know that people want to help us make this a special time for him and to help make him more comfortable and to make it as fun as possible. So, we'll also use some of this money to buy things that will do just that. We may buy some things like bean bag chairs, or a power wheels he can drive around himself for going on walks. We may go to the movies, or go out for ice cream. Or, maybe we'll take him on a special trip when this is all over, to celebrate his recovery. Honestly, we don't know what exactly we'll need or when we'll need it, but having some things in place for the right time will be helpful."
Thank you in advance for reading Elijah’s story and for any support you choose to offer to Elijah and his family.
Your thoughts and prayers for Elijah are deeply appreciated.
Here's a link to Justin's Blogspot
https://walkwithelijah.family.blog/
Elijah, Justin, Julia & Abigail AtwoodElijah’s Story by Justin Atwood:
What can I say about Elijah? This is a bit tricky, cause he's really a mini version of myself in so many ways. That's both amazing and a bit scary at the same time.
Let me jump back in time a few years just to give a little more context. When I was a kid, I noticed some things with my body that just didn't seem to work quite right or just weren't very comfortable. This got more noticeable as I got older and I could eventually see that this wasn't normal when seeing what my peers could do. When I was 15 my mom and I drove to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota where I underwent a few days of testing, x-rays, appointments, and consultations. At the end of it they told me that I had spondylometaphyseal dysplasia. At that point there was nothing that could be done for me, other than managing my condition. I also remember them talking a bit about the genetics of it all. I don't remember everything they said, but I do remember them telling me that there was a chance I could pass it to my kids.
Fast forward about 30 years. Ever since Elijah was born, he was always on the small side. Every time he'd go through a checkup, they'd tell us what percentile he was in, and he was always at the low end. We knew he was starting out like me, but we didn't know just what all that would mean. As he's grown, we've noticed more and more that he was having issues primarily with his legs and more specifically with his hips. When he walks or runs, he waddles. When he sits cross-legged, his knees stick up in the air. When he sits for a while, he walks like a little old man when starting out. And he just doesn't have much stamina with his legs before they start getting tired and sore. We knew this wasn't good, but we didn't know if there was anything we could do about it.
So, we scheduled an appointment at Phoenix Children's Hospital to get him checked out. I won't get into all of the details, but after about two years of many different appointments, x-rays, and doctors we heard what we were expecting. He had it too. But they were also able to give us a more specific diagnosis. It's spondylometaphyseal dysplasia - Sutcliffe type (or corner fracture type). They're able to diagnose it as such because this type produces what look like tiny fractures on the edges of some of the bones. These apparently go away after puberty, which is likely why they didn't see them in me when I was checked out. But now, what to do?
The most obvious issue they could see was the coxa Vara in his hips, and they let us know about a procedure they could do to help restore his hip joints to the correct angle. This is called a valgus osteotomy. It involves cutting his femurs and then fixing the cut femur and necks together with metal plates that hold them at the correct angle. The bones then heal back together at this angle, and then n after a year, they take the plates out.
He'll have this procedure done on August 2nd.
If there's something that we can do to help him live a better life and/or to at least lessen some of the issues he'll have later in life, we want to do it. But it's hard, especially as we're so close.
He'll be unable to put any weight on his legs for 6-8 weeks, which for any 6 year old boy would be tough. Then he'll have physical therapy. What happens after that? We hope that life will hopefully be back to (mostly) normal, but with some improvement.
How will he handle this? I don't know. I'd love to say that he's going to face it down without any fear and power through the the pain, but I just don't know know. This is new for all of us, and no matter how you look at it, it's scary.
We're doing out best to make this a positive experience for him. We want to provide some new and fun things for him after the surgery and eventually take him out to do some fun things (In his wheelchair). Hopefully, we can do a decent job of getting his mind off of things at least somewhat, and when he remembers this 30 years from now, he'll remember all the good things.
So, back to the original question. What can I say about Elijah? He's our special little man. He's both defender of and defender against his little sister (depending on the moment). He's a thinker who is always looking for someone to tell his grand plans and ideas. He's creative. Whether it's making something new out of Legos, trying to build bridges for his trains, or just working on a project just to figure out what he can do with it, he's always working on something. He likes cars, trains, trucks, planes, or anything that has an engine. He enjoys science experiments and fun games. He likes to be outside swimming, riding his bike or scooter, or just digging holes and crushing rocks with a hammer. He likes to work with his hands and make things, or make things happen.
He loves his family. He loves to play with his cousins and friends. He loves being a 6 year old boy.
And we love him, more than words could ever say.
God knew exactly what he was doing when he made Elijah, and we know that there is a great plan for his life. We're grateful that God let us be His parents and we pray that God uses this in ways that we could never even imagine.
Justin Atwood
A few words from a loving Mom:
"What is a mother to say about such an amazing son as Elijah. Don't get me wrong he isn't perfect and even more so neither am I; however as his mother I am inclined to think he is the best there is. God has gifted Elijah with this inner need for human conversation. It may sound strange but he is a boy who needs to speak!! The words just flow out of him. I was always told that men expressed themselves in as few words as possible but that certainly isn't true about our little boy. I am constantly amazed at how easily he greets people or even asks how their day is going. Most adults are so taken aback that they can hardly answer but that doesn't stop him he just plows right ahead with the conversation. I have come to see it as a beautiful gift that makes up my beautiful boy. It really isn't anything Justin and I have done, God has just created him in such a way that he craves words (LOTS and LOTS of words). I would have to say though that through this journey we have been on these last two years he has been quiet. At Doctor's appointments I have seen him shrink back into himself rather than be the confident wordy boy we are used to. That has been hard but when asked after such appointments if he has any questions or needs help understanding something he has nothing to say. It has been hard not knowing what he is thinking (since this rarely happens). Despite it all he continues to be his remarkable self. After each appointment he just picks up where he left off and never misses a beat. I am just in awe at how God works. He created my boy and said "it is good." Though his body isn't perfect God still calls his creation "good" and I second that emotion. I know the road ahead won’t be particularly easy for Elijah and that as he gets older he will have more pain in his joints but I know even more that God has given him this amazing personality that will allow him to cope with it just as his father does. I am so thankful for my boy and all the craziness that makes up who he is. There is so much I can say about my son from his cute little swagger down to his amazing LEGO skills but the most important thing about him is that God made him and loves him more than Justin or I could and He has amazing plans for our little boy’s life and all the words that are waiting to come forth.
Julia Atwood
Organizer and beneficiary
Alexis Simieritsch
Organizer
Sulphur Springs, AL
Justin Atwood
Beneficiary