Treatment Plan

Kelli is current seeing the doctors at the International Center for Limb Lengthening in Baltimore, MD.   Dr. Herzenberg said he could treat her condition with a superhip surgery at age 2 and lengthenings at age 4, 8, and 12.  In his estimation, without treatment, her left leg would always be 2/3 the size of her right leg.  At her current age, that means she has a 3 inch leg difference.  As an adult it would be closer to a 6-8 inch difference. 

We've opted to try the hip surgery during the summer when I am able to stay home and take care of Kelli while she is in the spica cast for six weeks.   The surgery was scheduled for June 2011.  However, the night before we were to go there, the doctor called and said he didn't think he could do the surgery because of her size.  He planned to evaluate her the next day, but wanted to give us some advanced notice that the surgery might not take place.  After examining her, the doctor decided that she was just big enough, but because of her tiny size, it would make the surgery more risky.  He advised us to wait a bit more to allow her to grow, but ultimately left the decision up to us.  We decided to wait.

The surgery was rescheduled for June 2012.  A week before the surgery, Kelli developed a really bad cough.  Her pediatrician didn't give her any medication for it.  Hoping for something to help her get over this cough, I took her to an urgent care center.  The doctor there gave her Dimetapp cough syrup, which didn't help.   When Dr. Herzenberg examined her the day before the scheduled surgery, he said that the anesthesiologist might not want her to have the surgery due to the cough, but we would have to wait until the next day to find out.  We arrived at the hospital early the next day and had Kelli ready in the pre-op room.

being silly with mommy

covering Jenny with stickers

waiting in pre-op

wondering if I'll have surgery

However, when the anesthesiologist arrived and heard the cough, he said it would not be wise to proceed.  The surgery was cancelled again.

It is now scheduled for June 11, 2013.  She still has the cough and we just came back from the pulmonologist today.  He's going to try to figure out what is causing this cough so that it will not interfere with the surgery.