Our 11-year-old daughter, Avery, was diagnosed with Perthes disease on September 12th and scheduled for surgery on September 17th. During surgery, the doctor loosened her tendon in her left leg, in hopes that her leg would gain full range of movement and the femoral head would be able to stay in the hip socket. They took stem cells from her hip and put them in the femoral head to hopefully allow blood flow back in, allowing it to grow back correctly! After surgery, Avery was put into a Petrie cast that starts a few inches down from her groin area, all the way to her ankles with a bar that keeps her legs spread apart. She will be in the Petrie cast for 6 weeks, and after the 6 weeks, she will be put into the "A" frame brace starting anywhere from 4 months up to 1 year. The doctors are hopeful that with all these precautions, she won't need a full hip replacement until her 30's. Worst case scenario, she will need a full hip replacement in her teenage years.

The first 6 weeks in the Petrie cast, Avery will be home from school. I will be out of work for those 6 weeks, caring for Avery! While we are hopeful that after she goes into her brace, she will be able to go back to school and that I will be able to go back to work! But in all honesty we just don't know. Avery will need numerous physical therapy appointments and post-op visits at Shriners' Hospital even after getting the cast off. Which means more time without pay! Yes I am using FMLA but that time is without pay and between adaptive clothing, diapers, wipes, little things to make life easier on all of us (hair washing sink, clip-on umbrella for her wheelchair, etc.), gas, and the never-ending bills, things are going to get tough, finically for our family!

We could truly use any kind of help, love, prayers, and support we can get during this time in need!

2025 has not been an easy year on our girls! Their father passed in August, and now Avery's diagnosis in September, is truly taking a toll on all of us!

We thank each and everyone of you guys that have helped and supported us through this tough time!