WhereOurTreasure-is: May 2012

Sunday, May 27, 2012

The Pain of Learning and The Joy of Progress

Susi and her peeps at the wheelchair clinic. Everyone is super excited to get Susi's new chair!

Susi is very motivated by the camera but don't let the smile fool you. This girl is giving it everything she's got to stand up like that. Many times behind the camera she is shedding tears of pain. She has not stood up or straightened her back, butt, and legs, ever! Her muscles are very weak, feeling and muscle ability is unknown at this point, and her bones (in her legs/knees) have formed crooked. This is very difficult for her but we work on it everyday and hope that someday she might stand up.

In meanwhile, she got a stylish new ride. Pink, of course! This is the first time she has a chair that fits her, supports her, and accommodates her feet. She can maneuver it easily and is learning all kinds of ways to deal with being in the wheelchair.

Thad had to learn the hard way to listen to Graci when she says to get out of the way of the swing. Poor guy!

My silly little potato heads!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Susi's Journey To Walking

January 2007 -baby girl undergoes surgery to repair her spina bifida.

Also born with bilateral club feet. No plan at this time to do anything to repair them.

At 2.5 years old she left the orphanage in Siping City and went to the clubfoot unit at An Orphan's Wish.

Casting began to straighten her clubfeet. Many children are successful with this treatment.

Unfortunately, for Susi, this would not be the case.

After the first set of casts, she developed an infection in her leg and casting could not continue properly.

It took so long to heal that progress in both legs became uneven. She spent and entire year of casting, infection, healing and repeat. Her feet could not be repaired. Then sweet girl went to Beijing to live at Shepherd's Field. The doctor there had her seen to do surgery to repair her feet. This happened at the same time that we found our Susi -Yue and began her adoption. So the surgery was not done.

About 18 months after that, little Susi is home with her family and prepares for clubfeet correction surgery.

April 2012 - Susi is ready to go into surgery with Dr. Vu.

It was a very difficult surgery reported Dr. Vu. It took almost 4 hours and he could not quite get the feet positioned as well as he would have liked. He said this surgery is best done on a 9 month old baby. The fact that Susi's bones had formed for 5.5 years made it very difficult to correct. After surgery her feet are considered braceable. They are at a ninety degree angle. She got her first set of full length casts, pink, of course.

Two weeks later the pink casts come off and mama and Susi are shocked with what we see. Left foot.

Right foot. Dr. Vu says the feet look good and are healing well.

So, on go the purple casts for the next two weeks.

Off come the purple casts and feet look a little more closed and healing. Left foot.

Right foot.

There are two pins in each foot. One in the top of the foot and one in the heal. These come out this day. They measure about 2 inches long. Unbelievable!

Last set of casts go on, red with gold glitter.

Here we are in May 2012. Casts are off for good. Feet are healing well. We have learned that Susi has ability with her right knee to kick back her foot. The left knee, not so much. But once positioned she seems to be able to hold it.

So, now establishing what feeling she has in her legs, she was fitted for braces. These will come in a few days.

In meanwhile she is trying to keep her feet as flat as she can. She is wearing whatever shoes she can get on. She loves shoes!! She is using her new trampoline and doing lots of physical therapy.

And of course, STANDING!!!!! She gets in and out of her wheelchair and now gets in and out of her trampoline. While her feet are still sore and weak, she still smiles and is excited to learn to walk. We pray that is God's plan for her!