It’s Been A Minute From My Last Post & Practically a Whole New Person...

 It’s been more than a minute since my last post and a world of change has occurred. Since my last post, I have had over a dozen more surgeries, countless hospitalizations, dozens of procedures and injections, endless doctors appointments and physical therapy sessions. The biggest change of all that has occurred was that during these surgeries I had a right total arthroplasty that got infected ultimately costing me my entire right hip and subsequently my proximal 1/3rd of my femur. It’s left my right leg 3.5” shorter than my left leg and it nearly impossible to walk without assistance. So, I use crutches for short distances and a wheelchair for everything else. 

It took me a long time to grieve what I had lost and to get to a place that I was at peace with my new body and limitations. Ive come to a place that I know that I won’t be getting a new hip and to keep attempting to try for one is just the definition of insanity. I was tired of constantly having surgeries, recovering from them, complications, infections, antibiotics, PICC lines, central lines, etc., etc. It’s the first time in nearly a decade I dont have a surgery planned on the horizon and its the most amazing and unfamiliar feeling. I actually took a vacation this past winter that didnt involve a medical appointment or surgery. 

Skiing in Crested Butte, CO. 

I have decided to not let my limitations hold me back from what I want out of life. I want to go back to school to study medicine to become a Physician’s Assistant or PA. I also just became a sponsored adaptive athlete under the Challenged Athlete Foundation - Operation Rebound in wheelchair racing. And I plan on becoming a dual sport athlete so in winter I do adaptive skiing in downhill and giant slalom. I am an Auntie to 3 amazing nieces and a nephew. And my best friend is pregnant with a little boy and another nephew for me. I can’t wait to spoil him rotten along with the other littles. They range in ages from almost 8 years old to newborn. 

 Grandpa w/ Eva, Ryker & Eloise 

Parker 

I never thought that I would find myself in this position in my life, but I also wouldnt change it. I have amazing family and friends. I have a wonderful medical team. I work with a great nonprofit, Miles4Hips( Www.Miles4Hips.com) and I get to help others with hip dysplasia via my PAO facebook group with co-admin Mary. I also pay it forward to others my sending out PAO bracelets in which PAO stands for Persevere And Overcome. PAO is also the initials of the surgery used to correct hip dysplasia. It feels good to help others or just lift their spirits.