Orthopedic Surgeon
Sooooooo . . . today not only was our 8th wedding anniversary (8 years ago we were married on the hottest day of the year in Illinois at 97 degrees and almost 100% humidity, 300 wedding guests and NO AIR CONDITIONING in the church --- groan! --- yep, you got that right!), but it was also Maia's leg appointment with the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon. We saw two doctors and we really loved them both. But Dr. G was the BEST. Probably one of the many reasons why people travel from all over to see him and why it takes 2-1/2 months to get in to see him.
Maia did some walking for him. He checked out her feet and legs extensively by touch, and he did lots of leg turning, prodding and twisting. He could tell just by looking at her legs while she was sitting on my lap that her left foot "went in". His diagnosis is, her left leg tibia is growing inward, but only at a 10% difference. Her toes turn inward, but he said that usually isn't a problem like when a person's toes turn outward.
He also said that her hips are a little out-of-whack. She sits in a "W" position all the time. Rarely does she sit like everyone else, with the legs in front or in an Indian-style position.
He called them both problems, but also both things that she will probably forever be able to live with. He said as long as she doesn't seem to be in pain (and she's not), then he isn't concerned at all. He said she might fall more than other kids (because of her tripping over that left leg) but that it doesn't bother him if it doesn't bother her or us. He also said the "W" sitting is something usually inherited from mom or dad - double-jointness or extra flexibility and limberness. If it's a genetic thing, she definitely got it from me and not Neil. Who knows, maybe she'll be the next famous ballet dancer, gymnast or trapeze artist?! HA! (Hoping not the latter!)
So we are happy. Very happy. Last time we were in there, I was standing in tears. Today I was standing in smiles.
And an interesting thing he did point out. He said in the 80's a doctor probably would have put her immediately in leg braces. But through lots of test and evaluations, they have discovered that leg braces do not help any more than no leg braces at all. He said they are basically a thing of the past because they haven't been proven to be any help at all in leg problems like hers (even worser cases).
So, we're home, having had no x-rays, and quite happy. Maia is napping and we're hoping Noah falls asleep too because we're all very tired. I don't think we slept well at all last night and today was just a lonnnng day.
Thanks so much for your prayers. I know that we've had so many. xoxo
