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!