An Overdue Update

 I'm sorry to say that I've neglected this blog recently - life has got in the way, as it has that funny habit of doing! We've made some great progress since my last post and naturally there were ups and downs along the way. 

Surgery

When I published my last post we were awaiting surgery. That operation happened at the start of December and went really well. Mr F broke and repositioned the bone in Rory's stump so that it was straight, and fixed a metal plate in place to help it heal and continue to grow straight. The metal plate will need to come out in just over a year's time - around early 2025. This is good as it gives us a solid 12 months without any surgery, which may be Rory's longest stint yet! 

Recovery

Whilst Rory recovered well, this time around there were other factors at play when it came to his rehabilitation. Following surgery Rory wasn't allowed to put any weight on his stump. Trying to keep an active three year old off their leg was a challenge! Luckily it was winter time so there wasn't a lot of running around outside happening; we could get away with sitting at home and playing on the floor or at the kitchen table. 

Since the operation changed the shape of Rory's stump (straightening out the bend) it meant that a new prosthetic was required. We had to wait for the wound to heal before he could be cast for a new leg - approx 6 weeks, and then wait the typical 12 weeks from cast to finished leg. This was going to be around 4 months without a leg, 4 months of being unable to walk! The hospital gave Rory a walker so that he could still get around, which we thought we could manage with although it was very clunky and didn't really fit through the doors and corners in our house, so wasn't a workable "at home" option. 

All seemed well until Rory went back to pre-school after the Christmas holidays - his first day back since his op, and his first day with his walker instead of his prosthetic. 

It was a disaster.

We spoke with his teacher who had observed that Rory was like a different child; he had lost all his confidence and didn't want to get involved with the activities or the other children anymore. It was like he was missing a part of him. That was the moment when we realised just how valuable his prosthetic is, and just how much confidence and independence it gives him on top of merely the ability to get around. Rory's prosthetic isn't just a walking aid; it's part of his identity, and to have that stripped from him put him at a loss. Knowing we still had months to go, we gave our prosthetic centre a call and asked them if there was anything they could do to expedite the process. As always they tried their best, and at the beginning of March (3 months post op) we picked up his new leg. And this time, of course, Rory had opted for a Paw Patrol design!

Our little lion was back! We were over the moon for him, and to celebrate we went on a little family mini break to a resort with lots of activities; somewhere for Rory to run around, go wild, and make up for lost time.

Since then

The last couple of months have relatively calm, leg wise. We've been on a few more trips, and have just got back from a family holiday to Lanzarote where Rory well and truly trashed his prosthetic! We didn't mind though; one call to Blatchford and we had a new foot ordered. 

I always remember Rory's consultant Mr F telling us right at the beginning that he never wanted to see a child come in with a pristine prosthetic leg. The whole purpose of them is to allow a child to do anything they want to, and a leg that has been knocked about and scuffed is a clear sign that a child has been running about, having fun, and living life to the full. So when we look at Rory's battered prosthetic we only ever the scars of a good time. 

Coming Up - Richard Whitehead

Next month the three of us will be taking part in the Run with Rich event in Nottingham. This is a sponsored 1 mile walk around the lake at Holme Pierpont raising money for the Richard Whitehead Foundation; a charity set up by the Paralympian to support disabled children through sport. Rory took part in this walk last year, so he's excited to try and beat his time! We're looking forward to meeting up with some other amputee children and their families. Additionally, Pete and my brother Tom (Rory's uncle) are walking 43 miles from Rory's prosthetic centre (Blatchford in Sheffield) to the Run with Rich event in Nottingham. They are walking through the night with the intention to arrive at Nottingham just as the event begins. There are a few hills along the way so it's no easy task! We wish them the best of luck!