We found out that my daughter had clubfoot at birth. Everyone was quiet and we were panicking that something was wrong with her. Once they explained it we started making a plan. The first doctor we saw said that she would never walk, would need complete reconstruction at 6 months and no he didn’t know what the Ponsetti method was and he wasn’t using it. As new parents we trusted him. He casted her legs in tubes, they looked like sausages when the casts came off! Luckily we were able to change insurance and get a new doctor after 3 weeks with the previous one.
The new doctor used the Ponsetti method and told me that of course, my baby would walk! My daughter has had 12 surgeries. Lateral releases, repositioning, a repaired Achilles, and a triple arthrodesis when she was 10. She plays volleyball in high school and is a barrel racer, horses are her life! She is determined to prove those wrong who say she is disabled and can’t do things!
After volleyball season we noticed her pain had greatly increased. We took her into our trusted podiatrist and found that she has end-stage arthritis in her right ankle. Our choices are now to fuse or do a replacement.
As a parent, it’s so hard to see your child suffer. She wants a replacement because she doesn’t have to give up her activities. I think that’s going to be our route, but as a pediatric nurse, I have to do more research. I’m just proud of her for pushing through no matter what!
You mentioned a replacement verses fusion. What did you mean by that?
Your daughter is right, she is not handicapped. Look at her abilities. An ankle fusion stablizes the ankle, strengthens it. I had 2 at different times-childhood & age 12, eons ago. I’m 72. Ponsetti was not around when I started 14 surgeries, ages 3 mos.-12 yrs. in 1946. My young MD enabled me to walk. I had severe bilateral clubfeet turned toward my face. I developed rheum. arth.-unrelated, I think around age 40. I wasn’t into sport but neer felt held back. I worked 37 yrs. as a Speech-anguage Pathologist, traveling to different schools, carrying supplies. I don-t use handicapped, defect/defective, deformed or other negative terms. Look at capabilites.