Mobility

   It's not easy to get around when you have had surgery on both legs.  There were two incisions on Kelli's right leg where they stopped the growth of the femur.  She has to wear a brace on this leg for at least two weeks.  When we have our follow up appointment, we will find out if she has to wear it longer.

  She has one incision on her left leg from the guided growth plate, and we keep an ace bandage wrapped around it to protect it.

  Her doctor had told us that she can weight bear and walk as soon as she feels comfortable provided that she wear the brace.  For the first few days, it was too painful for her to put pressure on her legs, so her dad and I would carry her to and from the bathroom.  This was so much easier when she had her first two surgeries at at ages four and five!  Back then, I could carry her by myself.  Now, her dad picks her up under her arm and I support her legs. 

   We decided to invest in a portable beside toilet so she wouldn't need to be carried as far and she wouldn't need to walk as far when she felt comfortable standing.  The beside toilet arrived on Friday afternoon, and I set it up for her.  After using it twice that day, she decided she wanted nothing to do with it and was determined to get to the bathroom on her own.  At 11:50 pm, she grabbed her walker and walked down the hall to the bathroom on her own.  By Saturday afternoon, she was walking to and from the bathroom without her walker. 

   We knew she would be allowed to shower starting on Friday, so we also purchased a shower chair for her so she wouldn't have to stand if it was too painful.  Our shower already had a handheld sprayer so she was able to safely enjoy a nice, warm shower.

   Each day her pain level decreases and she requires less pain medication.  Through it all, she has maintained a positive attitude and hasn't lost her sense of humor.  She is one amazing young lady!