Patient Stories

Hayden’s Story

Hayden was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplaysia at birth. At the 6 week mark the right hip had fixed itself, but the left was still a complete dislocation. After struggling with the pediatrician in a far remote arctic community, I advocated on my baby’s behalf for us to be sent down to see a pediatric ortho surgeon.

They tried to convince me that we would be able to wait until she was 5 months old to have her hips looked at, I refused to leave the office until they put the referral in. At nine weeks old she was placed in the pavlik, for 8 weeks 24/7. This was devestating, I cried for weeks and wondered what I had did wrong. It was like grieving a loss. I wasn’t able to hold my newborn baby like everyone else around me. It was a dark period in my life….

She progressed and was allowed into a rhino brace for 14 hours a day, then 12, then 8, then every other night. This was over the course of 7 months. We adjusted and it was second nature for us. The next worrisome part was her 1 year follow up, in which she was scheduled for an x-ray, I was a wreck a month prior, with constant worry that her hips were not growing at the rate her body was.

To my pleasant surprise, her X-ray results came back perfect! Such a weight lifted off my shoulders!!! I was probably the happiest I have been in a long time. Her legs have become bowed due to the rhino so we have a follow up I’m a year to see what her legs will be like them. BUT that is nothing in comparison to the journey we just endured. She is a reliant little girl ….

I guess what trying to say is for other hip babies who have been diagnosed and their families is that although the journey may be long and dark. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! All the best in your journeys and I hope each and everyone of your babies has an outcome like mine did. Xo