Parker is Getting Surgery in 2 Weeks

We finally made it to the pediatric orthopedic doc.  Yes…we have been putting it off, only because it didn’t seem to be “the most urgent need”.  We went, thinking that the doc was going to recommend “bracing” Parker’s left ankle.  We were definitely shocked to hear that Parker needs extensive surgery.

As Parker got off of the examining table for the doctor, his right foot hit the floor first and the doc immediately commented “Oh that right foot doesn't look too great”…but when that left one met the ground, he quickly shifted all focus to that left foot and ankle saying, “Oh he definitely needs surgery; this left one is way worse.”  Well, we knew it was worse but …gulp…surgery?!  He then went into great detail to explain that Parker needs surgery and for several reasons:  both ankles are collapsing towards the ground and the ligaments and tendons are not doing a good job holding things in place; his foot/toes are turning along with his tibia bones; and he felt that the issues with his feet, ankles, and legs could be contributing to the extreme pain he is having with his knees, hips, and spine. 

The solution, in two weeks, if all his docs clear him, he will be having surgery on both of his feet, ankles, and legs.  We had several docs recommend the doctor that we saw; and we are very glad that he is also the orthopedic surgeon; so it was a one stop shop.  He will be working on tendons, ligaments, and bones, making cuts in his bones to insert cadaver bones and pins with a goal of aligning both feet and ankles.   

Of course, Parker is not a straight up easy patient…not that this surgery is easy, but there are many things for his surgeon to consider.  The last time he had broken bones, it took 6 months to heal…much longer than usual.  He has full-on osteoporosis and of course juvenile arthritis.

His immune system is compromised due to his meds and also because he has hypogammaglobulinemia.  He has pulmonary obstruction and restriction.  And so, the surgeon is talking to his docs and he is going to use a bone stimulator to help with bone healing.  We are praying hard that his body won’t reject nor attack the foreign objects that they are about to insert to correct his feet, ankles, and legs.

He will have at least three days in the hospital; thank goodness this doctor is local.  He will then need to be out of school for at least a week.  The good news is the surgery is right before spring break…the bad news is recovery is during spring break…  But we are really trying to focus on the fact that he will not lose days at school since he is so close to going over 51% days missed at school.  But Michael, Logan, and I feel so sad for this kid.  It seems that every school break, he is struggling with something big, making it difficult to enjoy time off.  This means that Logan and Michael will be vacationing with our friends without us…so Parker and I welcome visitors to cheer him up.  Of course, call first.

Parker will have the first set of casts that cannot get wet, on both feet/legs for 4 weeks and he cannot bare weight on them either.  Then he will get a second round of casts that he will be able to put small amounts of weight on.  He should be able to return back to school, in a wheelchair, after spring break.

When I think back on last weekend at Camp Boggy Creek and how he danced and kept stopping due to pain, I just cannot imagine how this kid does it.  But he DANCED and he was HAPPY.  We love him so very much.

So here we go... on our newest journey...the journey to maintain walking and hopefully towards less pain.  Then, Parker, you can DANCE your little heart out!