Prayer request

All is going well here. Jack is doing great in his cast...walking, riding bikes and scooters. His aqua therapist asked me the other day, "is there anything he won't try to do?" I'm always thrilled when he's impressing his therapists, especially the veteran ones!


Walking the maze at the apple orchard. He looks very serious because he was concentrating.







Freedom never felt so good!



Look at that determined face.





Riding up the hill.





And some face time for little brother and sister!




Someone asked me if I'm excited for Jack to get his cast off...um, no! I would love to keep it on for a few more months! There is a big risk of fracture in the new bone until it is fully hardened, which takes time. While I LOVE that Jack is walking and bike-riding, I would like to put him in a bubble once the cast comes off, until at least the end of the year! I'm sure that would go over well with him.


We went out for dinner on Saturday and as we were leaving I heard Jack say to my dad, "I want to see her brace." I look over and see a teenage girl with a fixator on her leg!!! Of course I had to go over and say hi to her. Hers was different, more of a rod along her leg than the halos that Jack had. But, it was so neat for Jack to be able to talk to someone else that understands. Of course, my heart lurched when she said her pins were very painful and she knew she'd have trouble sleeping that night. She's a trooper though!


I started this blog months ago in hopes of connecting with other people in similar situations. We were lucky that we found another family that was undergoing a lengthening this summer as well. Yesterday, I got an email from Kelly (the mom) asking me to share their story with Jack's support team. Emma Grace had a leg length discrepancy as a result of a MRSA infection in her growth plates from birth. In July, at 3 years old, brave Emma Grace had surgery to begin her leg lengthening. After her surgery, Emma Grace battled seizures (due to high fever), many infections, and eventually caught the swine flu. We are heart-broken to tell you that Emma Grace passed away this week due to complications from her lengthening. We ask that ALL of our readers and supporters extend their prayers and healing thoughts to Emma Grace's parents, Kelly and Ryan, and her sweet baby sister, Estelle. Kelly and I were there for one another during those months of anticipation so it is important to me that we do what Kelly has asked...spreading Emma Grace's story of heroism and bravery. I know I will always hold a special place in my heart for Emma Grace, a little hero with a hairbow.