Despite the rainy weather on Wednesday morning, Rivers' spirits could not be dampened as we set out on her first airplane trip to Boston, Massachusetts. She had a wonderful time in the airplane studying the safety guidelines, coloring, "finger painting," and eating special snacks. It was very entertaining to watch her during the flights. Once we arrived in Boston, we caught a taxi and went to our hotel, took quick naps, and then set out walking to the Faneuil Hall area for dinner at Durgin Park and some shopping.
The next morning, we took the subway (the "T") to the area surrounding Boston Children's Hospital and the Harvard Medical School campus for our 1:00 o'clock appointment. We checked in on the
second floor, and Rivers kept busy climbing in and out of chairs and looking at books. We were called back, and after Rivers was weighed (25 pounds!) and they did a couple of little assessments, we were seated in an exam room and met with a doctor in residency to go over her medical history. Soon after, we met Dr. Young Jo Kim for the first time. He did a very thorough exam of Rivers' hips and knees and checked the strength of the muscles in her legs. Dr. Kim quickly determined that Rivers' left knee will need another surgery along with her left hip. Rivers had her left knee operated on when she was 9 months old to lengthen the muscle above her knee in order to create more flexion. Despite this prior surgery, she can only bend her knee to about 45 degrees and without her brace, her lower leg bends awkwardly. He said that he needed a better foundation for her to be able to walk on long term, which we agreed with completely! Dr. Kim wants to do another open reduction surgery on her left hip which involves cutting her femur bone and then plating the bone back together in a way that directs the head of the femur bone into the hip socket. Our prayer is that this surgery on her left hip will STAY IN PLACE! That is what has been so hard! She goes through the surgery, wears a spica cast for two months, and then wears a brace following that. However, as she continues on, the femur bone works its way out of where, previously, Dr. Piehl had put it because of the Arthrogryposis being so aggressive on that side. Please pray specifically that Dr. Kim will have great wisdom concerning how he performs Rivers' surgery on her left hip, and then for further wisdom as he decides whether to perform the knee surgery, or have another doctor in on that surgery. Because Rivers had a productive cough and a slight fever, Dr. Kim decided not to do the arthrogram the following morning, but to wait until just before her surgery. Dr. Kim's staff will get back to us in a couple of weeks to schedule her surgery. Ideally, he wants to perform the surgery in October, but with Jackson needing surgery more immediately than Rivers, he said that he would like to do it sometime between October and December.
second floor, and Rivers kept busy climbing in and out of chairs and looking at books. We were called back, and after Rivers was weighed (25 pounds!) and they did a couple of little assessments, we were seated in an exam room and met with a doctor in residency to go over her medical history. Soon after, we met Dr. Young Jo Kim for the first time. He did a very thorough exam of Rivers' hips and knees and checked the strength of the muscles in her legs. Dr. Kim quickly determined that Rivers' left knee will need another surgery along with her left hip. Rivers had her left knee operated on when she was 9 months old to lengthen the muscle above her knee in order to create more flexion. Despite this prior surgery, she can only bend her knee to about 45 degrees and without her brace, her lower leg bends awkwardly. He said that he needed a better foundation for her to be able to walk on long term, which we agreed with completely! Dr. Kim wants to do another open reduction surgery on her left hip which involves cutting her femur bone and then plating the bone back together in a way that directs the head of the femur bone into the hip socket. Our prayer is that this surgery on her left hip will STAY IN PLACE! That is what has been so hard! She goes through the surgery, wears a spica cast for two months, and then wears a brace following that. However, as she continues on, the femur bone works its way out of where, previously, Dr. Piehl had put it because of the Arthrogryposis being so aggressive on that side. Please pray specifically that Dr. Kim will have great wisdom concerning how he performs Rivers' surgery on her left hip, and then for further wisdom as he decides whether to perform the knee surgery, or have another doctor in on that surgery. Because Rivers had a productive cough and a slight fever, Dr. Kim decided not to do the arthrogram the following morning, but to wait until just before her surgery. Dr. Kim's staff will get back to us in a couple of weeks to schedule her surgery. Ideally, he wants to perform the surgery in October, but with Jackson needing surgery more immediately than Rivers, he said that he would like to do it sometime between October and December.After the appointment, we made our way back to the Faneuil Hall area by subway. Rivers fell fast asleep in her stroller
, and when she woke up, she was feeling much better. We had dinner at Sam's Pub at the Cheers restaurant, and watched a street performer while Rivers ate her strawberry ice cream. On Friday, we ate breakfast and went down the block to Boston Public Garden. Mom and I took Rivers for a ride on the swan boats, which she greatly enjoyed, and then we were off to the airport. It was a whirlwind trip, but we managed to slip in some fun activities in the midst of our greater agenda. I guess we'll become pretty familiar with Boston over the next year!
, and when she woke up, she was feeling much better. We had dinner at Sam's Pub at the Cheers restaurant, and watched a street performer while Rivers ate her strawberry ice cream. On Friday, we ate breakfast and went down the block to Boston Public Garden. Mom and I took Rivers for a ride on the swan boats, which she greatly enjoyed, and then we were off to the airport. It was a whirlwind trip, but we managed to slip in some fun activities in the midst of our greater agenda. I guess we'll become pretty familiar with Boston over the next year!
