Forgive me...some of this is C & P from another thread. 
Anna was born with Macrodactyly. Her left foot is deformed. The big toe, 2nd toe & forefoot are grossly enlarged...thicker, wider, longer that they should be. The other toes are smaller than they should be due to the pressure of the enlarged part pressing into the rest of the foot...distorting the shape of the rest of her foot. The 3 smaller toes are forced to curl under the foot. The middle toe (next to the 2nd toe) is actually smaller that it should be because it's growth is being stunted by the pressure) That's where we think she may be feeling the most pain...the pressure. Although there is a possibility that it is more involved than that. Macrodactyly is believed to be nerve-related.
There are 2 types of macrodactyly...one is static (where the affected part grows at the same rate as the rest of the foot) & the other is progressive (where the affected part grows faster than the rest of the foot). It appears that Anna has the progressive type.
They have to do her first surgery soon because if they do it too close to when she starts to crawl or walk...she won't. They are hoping that the first surgery will be enough that she will still learn to walk. But it will take multiple surgeries over several years to achieve a totally functional foot.
HERE are pics of her feet. They were taken from birth, 1 week & a few days ago. You can see in pics #5 & 6 how her other toes curl under her foot. (although those 2 pics don't quite show her bigger toes fully) In pic #7 you can see how much larger (especially wider & thicker) her whole left foot is.
We are waiting to see the pediatric orthopedic surgeon & the pediatric plastic surgeon at Children's Hospital. We will know more then...but have been told by our pediatrician that she will most likely be having the first surgery in March.
Although we have been told by the pediatrician that there is nothing that I could have done that could have caused it...that it is just a random thing...I can't help but look back over the pregnancy & question myself.
The tie-dying that I'd done just before she was conceived? The re-painting of rooms in the summer? The 3D ultrasound at 22 weeks?
We have decided that due to this (& the fact that our 12yo DD has an unrelated birth defect, also considered to be totally random, but also requiring surgery) that we shouldn't have any more children. We had always intended on having 7. And although my DH isn't convinced that Anna should be our last...I feel differently...I can't help but feel responsible. Not to mention how needy Anna is. I just can't imagine adding to the workload, KWIM?
It's so hard...but I will be selling her diaper stash that I worked so hard to build. (the stuff she's outgrown) I can't rationalize holding onto stuff that I paid lots of $ for that won't be used again. And parting with all of the tons of baby clothes...boxes of boy & girl stuff.
It will be even harder to let go of the dream of having another little boy. I'd always seen us with another baby boy. He's had a name for years. And a face...I'd seen him in my dreams so many times...but maybe he was just one of the spirit babies that I'd lost...
Anyway...I'm rambling now...
If any of you pray- please keep Anna in your prayers.
:
Any positive energy, healthy vibes, prayers, etc. would be most appreciated. No surgery is without risk. Especially in a young baby. But if we don't do surgery there is a strong possibility that she wouldn't be able to walk.
Thanks for listening.
:
Anna was born with Macrodactyly. Her left foot is deformed. The big toe, 2nd toe & forefoot are grossly enlarged...thicker, wider, longer that they should be. The other toes are smaller than they should be due to the pressure of the enlarged part pressing into the rest of the foot...distorting the shape of the rest of her foot. The 3 smaller toes are forced to curl under the foot. The middle toe (next to the 2nd toe) is actually smaller that it should be because it's growth is being stunted by the pressure) That's where we think she may be feeling the most pain...the pressure. Although there is a possibility that it is more involved than that. Macrodactyly is believed to be nerve-related.
There are 2 types of macrodactyly...one is static (where the affected part grows at the same rate as the rest of the foot) & the other is progressive (where the affected part grows faster than the rest of the foot). It appears that Anna has the progressive type.
They have to do her first surgery soon because if they do it too close to when she starts to crawl or walk...she won't. They are hoping that the first surgery will be enough that she will still learn to walk. But it will take multiple surgeries over several years to achieve a totally functional foot.
HERE are pics of her feet. They were taken from birth, 1 week & a few days ago. You can see in pics #5 & 6 how her other toes curl under her foot. (although those 2 pics don't quite show her bigger toes fully) In pic #7 you can see how much larger (especially wider & thicker) her whole left foot is.
We are waiting to see the pediatric orthopedic surgeon & the pediatric plastic surgeon at Children's Hospital. We will know more then...but have been told by our pediatrician that she will most likely be having the first surgery in March.
Although we have been told by the pediatrician that there is nothing that I could have done that could have caused it...that it is just a random thing...I can't help but look back over the pregnancy & question myself.
The tie-dying that I'd done just before she was conceived? The re-painting of rooms in the summer? The 3D ultrasound at 22 weeks?
We have decided that due to this (& the fact that our 12yo DD has an unrelated birth defect, also considered to be totally random, but also requiring surgery) that we shouldn't have any more children. We had always intended on having 7. And although my DH isn't convinced that Anna should be our last...I feel differently...I can't help but feel responsible. Not to mention how needy Anna is. I just can't imagine adding to the workload, KWIM?
It's so hard...but I will be selling her diaper stash that I worked so hard to build. (the stuff she's outgrown) I can't rationalize holding onto stuff that I paid lots of $ for that won't be used again.
And parting with all of the tons of baby clothes...boxes of boy & girl stuff.It will be even harder to let go of the dream of having another little boy. I'd always seen us with another baby boy. He's had a name for years. And a face...I'd seen him in my dreams so many times...but maybe he was just one of the spirit babies that I'd lost...
Anyway...I'm rambling now...
If any of you pray- please keep Anna in your prayers.
:Any positive energy, healthy vibes, prayers, etc. would be most appreciated. No surgery is without risk. Especially in a young baby. But if we don't do surgery there is a strong possibility that she wouldn't be able to walk.
Thanks for listening.
:
to you and your family...
