Beautiful in All Ways Cause God Makes No Mistakes

SADIE'S BIRTH
Sadie Sofia Falvey was born on April 23, 2011 (the eve of Easter). On Easter day, the pediatrician who examined her noticed a discrepancy in how her hip was formed and a slight leg length difference, with her right leg being shorter than her left. She thought it might just be hip dysplasia, which many babies are born with and are treated for very quickly, but referred us to an orthopedic pediatric specialist. We brought our little angel home from the hospital on the afternoon of April 25.

On April 26, two first-time parents (and one a breastfeeding mom who had no knowledge of pumping/bottles, etc) packed up our 6 pound baby in the car and drove down to the massive Cleveland Clinic for our appointment with the specialist. Everywhere we went inside the clinic people would stop and ask how old our tiny baby was and we would smile and say, "3 days". :). We had to hold Sadie down on the x-ray table so they could see what her little bones looked like. After the specialist examined them, he was able to tell us that Sadie was born with PFFD (proximal femoral focal deficiency). Basically this means deformed hip and short femur. We were devastated and confused. Nothing can be worse than someone telling you that something is wrong with your baby.

However, we were determined that Sadie would be raised to believe she was perfect and could do anything she wanted to do. Because that is the truth, no matter what.


PFFD
The doctor told us that the cause for this is unknown, and that something just didn't form right in her bone and hip at about 7 weeks of age as a fetus. It is also very rare - we have heard and read about 1 in 250,000 babies are born with this. He let us know she would just have to wear a shoe lift to equal out the difference, and may walk with a slight limp, but this in no way will affect her ability to crawl, walk, play sports and become valedictorian of her class.


CREATING THIS BLOG
This blog was created for a few reasons....to help keep our awesome group of family and friends who are like family informed on her progress. It will also serve as an online journal so that Sadie can look back on this, as well as be my "inspiration outlet".

SOLVING THE PROBLEM
We were lucky to find and meet with Dr. Dror Paley on 11/11/11 at his limb lengthening institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Paley is truly a medical pioneer and the world leader in treating PFFD patients by saving their limbs and reconstructing so that they can be "normal" (many other doctors recommend amputation).

You can read all about Dr. Paley's impressive background and achievements on his website.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Our plan at this point is:
1.) Superhip surgery - Winter 2013 - Sadie will be 2.5 years old
This surgery will correct and reform the hip as well as straighten out the top of the femur bone which is now curved, like a cane.
Dr. Paley actually created this surgery himself and has been doing it since 1997.
It is a long surgery (5 hours or more) but does not require much rehab and we will only be down in Florida for approximately 2 weeks.

2.) 1st Limb Lengthening - Winter 2014 - Sadie will be 3.5 years old
We will live in West Palm for 4 months or more at this time, with daily rehab sessions.

3.) 2nd Limb Lengthening - Winter 2018 - Sadie will be 7.5 years old
*each lengthening procedure will have a goal of gaining 4 inches.
Dr. Paley's prediction for her difference at skeletal maturity is 9 inches. Without the surgery she would have to get a custom shoe lift of 9 inches tall made for every shoe she wears. She may possibly walk with a limp. I am also not sure how most pants would fit her not only in length but also at the top as her right upper leg is "bulky" due to the short bone.

This is an excerpt from a parent testimonial of just one of the many children he has helped (read the full write-up here):

The full experience of being a patient of Dr. Paley is not solely about his precision as a surgeon, or his work as a tireless researcher and a ground-breaking medical pioneer. These descriptors would be incomplete without also describing the relationships that he develops with his patients and their families. Dr. Paley is dedicated to his patients beyond the operating room. He is committed to being the supreme advocate for his patients at all cost.

Needless to say, we are very comfortable and impressed with Dr. Paley. We feel extremely lucky that he is in this world and available to us to help Sadie. She will most likely not even remember most of this since memory begins between 4 and 5 years of age, after which she will only have 1 big surgery left.

INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR
In our meeting with Dr. Paley on November 11, I jokingly asked him if he prescribes valium for parents when their children go through this surgery. He laughed but did mention that, no pun intended, it is a huge growing experience, emotionally, for families. I can honestly say now that we have an answer and know that although it will not be easy to go through, we are so much ahead of where we were back on April 26.


I have always had the mindset that anything is possible. I'm not a big fan of excuses, and I usually can figure out a way to do anything I really want to do. We can definitely do this, and get through it, and I believe we will be better and stronger people because of it. It's kind of what life is all about, isn't it? I hope to draw inspiration and get to the heart of true positive thinking through this and raise Sadie to believe that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE and that she is and always will be a fabulous and beautiful superstar. She is truly our little angel. :)



SADIE'S SONG
Before Sadie was born, Lady Gaga's hit song "Born This Way" was all over the radio. We kept saying it was her song. After we found out about her condition, we said that it most certainly is her song!!! The lyrics are very meaningful to me now and I have the song readily available in my car to play anytime I need a positive energy boost! Also, "Glee" (one of my favorite TV shows) did an episode entitled "Born This Way", all about how everyone is born with something, but it's up to you to use your "special" drawback to your advantage. They ended the show with - what else? - a grand finale performance of the song. Coincidentally, this episode first aired on the very same day we had our appointment at the Clinic and found out about Sadie's condition.

Thanks to Uncle Chooch for the special shirt he made for Sadie!!!

Here is a rather long and weird beginning video of our favorite song! (feel free to just fast forward through the first 2 minutes to get to the song):