Patient Stories

Sips for Hips


Many of our readers know, getting a diagnosis of hip dysplasia is a scare thing. Typically, they don’t know anything about hip dysplasia and the unfortunate hardship it brings. On top of everything, they tend to feel very alone and don’t know where to turn.

When Kendra’s daughter was diagnosed with hip dysplasia she reached out to IHDI for help. We answered her questions and connected her with the hip dysplasia community for support. Kendra and her family have gone through countless hardships since that original diagnosis but she has never lost faith. In fact, Kendra took it upon herself to do what she could to help battle hip dysplasia.

Here is the interview we conducted with Kendra via email.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

-Team IHDI

1)Tell us a little bit about yourself.

As I sit here writing this (with my IHDI pen and the bracelet that I haven’t taken off in almost 4 years) I will attempt to tell you a little about myself and our fight against this monster that we call DDH.
My name is Kendra Munoz, age 43, mommy of our beautiful daughter Peyton who is five and her older sibling Sophie age 6 and her younger brother Hobie age 2. Oh, did I forget to mention that her siblings are the cutest lil boxer pups around. I am also blessed to be a wife to my husband Steve for almost 20 years. We live, along with all of my family, in Oroville CA. We are about 1 ½ hours north of our state’s capital: Sacramento. This is a place where we love to fish in our lakes and rivers and go skiing in our mountains. But if you ask anyone, the most enjoyed events we have around here are the backyard BBQ’s with great friends, amazing food and some fantastic wine to go along with it. Why am I telling you about the great food and wine, well that is to be explained a little later.

2) What is your experience or connection with hip dysplasia.

Peyton was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at six months at a well-baby check. She was immediately sent to Shriner’s and was put into a Pavlic Harness for a month. She was then immediately switched to a Rhino Brace until 13 months. After which we enjoyed about a year of normalcy thinking that her hip would correct itself. At 2 ½ years she had her first pelvic osteotomy which failed so two weeks later she had another. She had her hardware removed three months later and we thought all was well until last August, at four years old, when the doctor informed us that it looked like there may be more surgeries to come.
When we started this journey I felt scared and alone. I did not know there was anywhere to turn. I had just heard of this diagnosis and how could there be anyone out there who knew what we were going through. I then found the IHDI! When I called Susan she was like the savior I had been looking for. She assured me that we were definitely not alone in this battle. She not only knew what Peyton was going through, but what we were going through as parents. The IHDI not only gave us professional advice and support, but also put us in contact with other families who were going through the same battles as we were. There was this huge family out there that we had not known existed, until contacting the IHDI.

3) Please tell us why you decided to get involved with the IHDI?

As word spread of Peyton’s’ hip dysplasia, the questions and statements started flying. Not only did people not know anything about hip dysplasia, the statements they did make were very upsetting to me.
“I thought that was just in dogs?”
“You mean like German Shepherds”
And my favorite “Kids don’t have that, its only in dogs!”
No one in this community knew anything about children with hip dysplasia, but everyone I had spoken to were very interested and responsive. People weren’t going to learn about this condition unless I did something to teach them about it. I knew that a fundraiser was the answer and the IHDI was the organization I wanted to fundraise for. The IHDI was there for us at every turn, it was now my turn to do something for the IHDI. I had to raise money for the organization that not only helped us in our great time of need, but countless others.

4) So how did you come up with the idea for Sips for Hips and what exactly is it.

I wanted to do a fundraiser that would appeal to a broader crowd, something that could be big. This is where the previous comment about loving amazing food and fantastic wine comes into play. The theme was the easy part, a wine and food pairing event. We needed a name that would grab people’s attention, so after much thought and many possible names, Sips for Hips was born. Now for the particulars. We went to a local winery and talked with them. They gave us the use of the winery free of cost for the event and a very generous discount on the wine to be used. I also talked to several caterers and found one that would donate their time and prepare the food at their cost. We had a local band perform that donated their time as well. The last thing that brought the entire event together was getting raffle and silent auction items from many of the local businesses in town, as well as some very special people who wanted to support our cause. We ended up with over 100 raffle items! Tickets went for $1 a piece or 15 for $10. We also had 15 silent auction items that alone brought in over $1000!
I put flyers up all over town as well as talked to every local business I could get to. I also had tickets available for advance purchase at a few predetermined places. The cost for a ticket was $40 which included a keepsake wine glass with our logo, a tasting of four wines paired with appetizers, an amazing desert and ten raffle tickets. The additional raffle tickets, along with wine, was available for purchase and the winery gave us a portion of the proceeds from the wine sales for the event as well.
When all was said and done, we had raised over $6700 for the IHDI! This fundraiser was an event that I gave my everything to. It just goes to show that if you’re passionate about something, coupled with hard work, you can achieve anything!

5) What were some of the hurdles or obstacles you came across when creating this event?

The biggest obstacle I encountered was time. I had many people who wanted to help but I wanted to do it all. I was crazy for not taking them up on their offers. The obstacles I thought I would have going into this was wondering if the community would support us with a cause they had never heard of before. That was proven not to be the case at all.

6) What would you tell someone who wants to get involved but doesn’t know how to get started?

Trust in yourself and the passion you have for the IHDI. I am a person that couldn’t talk in front of any crowd until the Sips for Hips event. You would be surprised at how excited your community will be to support you. When you get your idea, start writing things down and start talking to the people you would need to make this event happen. For us it was the winery, caterer, band and the individuals that donated all of our items for the raffle and silent auction. It is a lot of work but so worth it when you are able to talk to so many about hip dysplasia. When you have your idea figured out and dates reserved, etc., it all starts falling into place.

7) Will there be a Sips for Hips 2 and would I change anything from the first version?

Our event was amazing and I feel it was a huge success, but if I do another one it will have to be bigger. Perhaps reaching out beyond our “local” community, a bigger venue with multiple wineries and more food. There is always room to reach out for a few more raffle and silent auction items also. The chances in Sips for Hips 2 becoming a reality is always a possibility. It’s something that is always in the back of my mind.

8) Do you have any advice for someone newly diagnosed (or their parents) with hip dysplasia?

My advice for those newly diagnosed or their parents is to inform yourself. Know your options, get second or even third opinions and ask questions! Some of the knowledge you will receive unfortunately, comes with experience, but the information and support that I have received from the IHDI and the support groups of parents and patients are what gets me through those days that I feel I am going to fall apart. Along with this battle we are fighting for Peyton, I also was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Everyone in our hip family was there for me with phone calls or emails from the moment I let them know my diagnosis. Just knowing I have this support system for the both of us means the world to me. We were not given a choice but to fight this war, so I am so thankful that we are not having to do it alone.
9) What else would you like to say to people about hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is so common, yet no one knows about it. This is why we all need to get out there and spread the word. Together we can, together we will.

For additional information about how you can get involved please check out our page: Get Involved