My Fearless Girl

I finally found the memory card for my camera. I have been turning the house upside down. I was upstairs straightening Sidney’s room, and of course, I found it. So my photos are not from the weekend but puttering around the yard today and some other stuff. Fresh air is a mom and dad’s best friend, especially cooler weather which will soon be crisp fall days. My kids are beat at night after going outside and running around. This is also helping in Sidney’s current phase of great sleep. I am almost afraid to report she has been sleeping all night long without interruption. Something that makes mom and dad very happy and awake!  This is so different from the little girl who cried for her nannies when we first came home. There is good and bad in every experience, and this was one of the first times I was able to truly comfort her with her learning to receive affection.

Sidney’s ability to get to the point we are today is no doubt her fearlessness. This is the same fearlessness we witnessed Sunday as Sidney slowly made friends with Libby. Libby is Tom’s parent’s large yellow lab. Each time we visit, Sidney has to reacquaint herself with this very large creature towering next to her. We went outside, and as soon as she saw Grandpa playing fetch with a tennis ball, she quickly learned games with the dog were fun. By the time we went inside for dinner, she was telling the dog “c’mon” as Sidney prepared to play a game of fetch whereby she threw the ball two feet, using all her might, and the dog brought the ball back. This is also the fearlessness I saw at our friend’s house in Jesup as the kids climbed the newly constructed play set, and Sidney followed the boys up a tall ladder and a down a fast yellow slide. When she came rocketing off the end, she simply picked herself up and went right back up the ladder. That’s my girl! 

Watching Sidney climb was a reminder that her leg never slows her down. We have noticed in the last couple of weeks that the difference in lengths between legs has become more pronounced. This is a result of her growth, and we know it is inevitable. It is simply a part of her condition, and it will continue to happen as she grows taller. This is a double edged sword, because she needs to grow. We can see it when she is running around in the back yard. Her stride running changes a bit. 

We have talked with our orthopedist in planning the future for her leg. As I have said before, we will not look into lengthening until the rate of infection for the procedure decreases, if ever. It is a hot button topic amongst parents of kids with Fibular Hemimelia with one side believing kids should have legs of equal length to decrease wear on the spine and hips, as well as improve mobility. Others are concerned about the rate of infection. This is especially worrisome in Sidney’s situation as her foot is great on the side with the shorter of the two legs or her left leg. We understand everyone has to make their own decision based on the unique needs of their child. Infection can lead to amputation which is something we will never risk. Because her foot is only missing one toe, amputation wasn’t even on our radar; however there are many parents of kids with this condition that face amputation. Typically, the foot is not as normally formed as Sidney’s. So for now, we have decided to do something to make it easier on her spine and hips while giving her good mobility. Our orthopedist gave us a couple of ideas of what they do when this is a necessity for her mobility, and I think they will continue to do amazing things for her. Any decision about how to move forward is a ways off, as she will be able to touch the ground with her left foot for a long while. Again, I am struck by God’s grace for a child whose condition was otherwise unrecognized in her orphanage.

OK, it is time to relax and live vicariously through Anthony Bourdain.