Owen was born in 2009 with a short right femur and the right side of his hip not developed properly.
This condition is called Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency or PFFD for short.
This blog is for Owen's family and friends to follow his progress and help other families who have a
child with PFFD.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Fwd: Owen has not quite figured out how to make his knee bend as he walks...but he sure can maneuver his new leg! We are waiting on Physical Therapy for some gait training and hopefully they will be able to teach him how his new leg works!!! He is soo excited about batman on his new leg and we are just as excited to see that this new leg isn't going to stop him!!!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Here is a short video from our last trip to Shriner's while they were fitting Owen for his next prosthetic. They make a cast mold of his limb for the top socket of his prosthetic. Owen always does soo well and is such a good patient. He is still and always a perfect mold every time...so far! Sure can't wait for his new prosthetic the end of the month.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Little Boys and their puddles! Owen had his follow up visit with Dr. Talwalker on Monday Sept. 23rd...hard to believe it has been 6 months since his cast was removed. The appt went well and Mr. O has grown taller and slimmed down in his limb so much that we have to build him a new prosthetic. This time Owen has picked Batman for his new leg! The new and exciting news is this new prosthetic comes with a BIG surprise...Owen gets a KNEE JOINT!!!! We are excited and nervous. This will be his biggest prosthetic challenge yet! He will have to learn how to operate his knee joint. We have faith that Owen will take this challenge and surprise us all at how well he adapts. Mr. O will be running and riding a bike before we know it! The plan is to pick up his new leg around the end of October. Can't wait to share his new Batman Leg with all of you!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Hard to believe it has been 3 months since we started the surgical journey with Owen and here is the end result a new Buzz Lightyear Prosthetic! Owen is able to wear his new leg for about an hour in the mornings and an hour in the evenings to build his muscles back up but we believe it want be long and he will be running all over the place. Thanks to everyone for your support, love, and prayers throughout this process! We couldn't have gotten this far without each of you! Thanks for being there every step of the way!!!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Shriner's just called and Owen's prosthetic is READY!!!! Our appointment is set for Thurs. at 1:30. Below is a picture of Owen getting his leg casted for his new prosthetic at his last appointment when they removed his cast. We are soo excited and anxious for Thursday April 25th to get here! Can't wait to post pictures and videos of Owen walking in his new Buzz Lightyear Prosthetic!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Hard to believe it has been 3 months since Owen's surgery. Also, I can't believe it has been 3 weeks since his cast was removed. Owen wants to walk so bad and we hope to get his prosthetic in a week or two. Here is a quick video of Owen using the bars at Shriner's the day his cast was removed. He was soo excited to take those steps after being in a cast for 10 weeks! Can't wait to post of a video of him walking in his new prosthetic next!!!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
One week since Owen got his cast removed and he has already made a new amputee friend Mr. John Mabry a representative for Swiftwick Valor a new compression prosthetic liner sock. How exciting it was for Owen to meet Mr. John and get to sample these new amazing socks! We toured the office and meet the staff. Here is a picture of Owen and John.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Look at this Happy Boy :) Owen is sooo excited to be home and free from the cast. We have only been home 10 minutes and he is already in a Bath. It has been 10 weeks since a real bath and he couldn't wait any longer. The cast removal could not have gone any better. He didn't mind the noise or seeing his limb for the first time. He was amazing! We are soo blessed he made the process so easy! Thanks for all your prayers to help us get through today. We are so ready to get his prosthetic in one month and see him up and walking. It want be long now.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Owen's LAST night in his cast!!!! He is soo excited to say goodbye to this cast and to take a real bath!!!! His appointment is Monday at 10 am for the cast removal then we will head over to prosthetics to mold his leg for his next prosthetic. We will only stay for the day and drive back that afternoon. Here is a picture of Owen playing in the hotel before bed. Just love his sweet smile it makes all this worthwhile and much easier as a parent to see his smiling face throughout this whole process. His is such a blessing to our lives and has taught us soo much. We LOVE you Owen and can't wait for you to take your next steps...
Monday, March 18, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Owen road back in style again! He was back in the O.R for an hour. They were able to take the pins out and Dr. Talwalker was very pleased with how the incisions looked. In order to keep Owen's bones from breaking and keep them stable we had to recast. Owen will have to wear his new smaller and lighter BLUE cast for 4 more weeks!!! He is back in the room with us and sleeping.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
5 weeks down and 1 more to go!!!! Our appointment is set for 11:30 am on February 27th. They will put Owen under a light sedation to remove his cast, check his pins, and take x-rays. This will help Dr. Talwalker decide if everything has healed properly for the cast to be removed. If by chance we have to recast Owen it will be for an additional 2-4 weeks. We are hoping and praying the cast can come off, but we are ok with recasting if his bones need to heal longer. If the cast is removed he will come home in a shrinker sock to reduce the swelling and fluid in his leg. He can take the shrinker off for a real bath and should wear this for about 2-4 weeks. Once his leg is back to normal size we will be able to fit him for his new prosthetic. We are so anxious for this next phase for Owen to begin. He will be up and running before we know it! Owen will be under Anesthesia for about an hour, in recovery for 2-4 then we will be released to go back home. One more week and we get to say goodbye to the Big Green cast...not sure who is more excited us or Owen!!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
One month ago today, we were holding our baby boy after his long 4 hour surgery. We were soo thankful to see his beautiful smiling face and to receive the good news that the surgery was a success. Now today we are busy keeping that smile on Owen's face. During the day he is pretty peaceful and easy to keep entertained...at night he just can't get comfortable to sleep peacefully. We are very anxious for his upcoming appointment on the 27th to see if he is ready to have the cast removed...we are hopefully and keeping our fingers crossed. Happy Valentine's Day from Drake and Owen!!!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
3 weeks DOWN and 3 weeks to GO till out next follow up appointment in Feb. 27th!!! For the past couple of nights Owen has been up uncomfortable every 2 hours but last night he made it 4 without waking up...so hopefully we are back on the upswing. Thankfully the weather has been nice so we can get some much needed OUTSIDE time!!! Owen is soo happy when we are outside. Here is a picture of him driving the Go-Cart yesterday. 21 more days and either way we say goodbye to the big green cast and hopefully not hello to a big blue one (Drake wants the next cast to be blue) but we are saying our prayers that everything has healed correctly and he doesn't have to put on another cast.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Owen wants to say Thank You all by himself to everyone who has called, sent goodies, and prayed for him. Owen has wonderful days and is such a happy amazing little man...but he is a NOT a happy camper at night. Poor little guy we don't know how to help him get comfortable as he can sleep at night. We are completely off the pain medicine and we tried just teynol last night to see if that might help him sleep. He really doesn't seem to be in pain he just can't sleep. Baby steps and we will take it one day at a time.
Owen wants to say Thank You all by himself to everyone who has called, sent goodies, and prayed for him. Owen has wonderful days and is such a happy amazing little man...but he is a NOT a happy camper at night. Poor little guy we don't know how to help him get comfortable as he can sleep at night. We are completely off the pain medicine and we tried just teynol last night to see if that might help him sleep. He really doesn't seem to be in pain he just can't sleep. Baby steps and we will take it one day at a time.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Well we made it through our first week! Here is a picture of Owen's big uncomfortable cast. All and all he is exceeding our expectations and maintaining his happy smile and personality...but for the 1st time he had a very restless night. Not sure what changed cause during the day we are able to decrease his pain medicine and he is perfect but last night he just could not get still to fall asleep. We are hopeful that today and tonight will be better.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Owen and mom playing a little air hockey after breakfast this morning. Anything to keep him busy. We are slowly decreasing his pain medicine and he seems to be doing really well. He slept through a couple of doses last night. Baby steps it is hard to believe we are one day away from being a week after surgery. He amazes us everyday!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Look what got delivered to our house today...the wheelchair is perfect for sitting him up to eat and a nice way to give him a stroll around the house. We are managing very well since we have been home. Owen doesn't seem to be in any pain and is adjusting very well to day 4 after surgery. We are soo proud of our little man!!! Big brother came home today and he has been a huge help in keeping Owen busy.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Owen is soo Happy :) to be Home!!! He slept great except for Mom and Dad waking him up every 2 hours for pain medicine. (Boy are mom and dad tired we are not used to waking up every 2 hours). We had to get our wagon out so Owen can go on rides inside the house. He gets VERY frustrated that he can't get down and crawl at his own house. The doctor said that he can not crawl on his cast for 6 weeks....it is going to be a long 6 weeks trying to distract him from getting down. Plus as you all know Owen doesn't like sitting still. All and all we are thankful to be home and Owen is really been amazing through this whole process...he has smiled the whole time.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Words can't express how blessed we are and how many people love and have prayed for Owen. We are amazed and blown away from the calls, messages, food, treats for the boys, hugs and even shoulders to cry on.... It all means soo much to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Owen is one lucky boy!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Owen is Free and soo excited! Owen removed both his IVs all by himself about an hour before they scheduled to come in and remove them for him. Owen just had a different plan so he got mad and pulled them out with no tears. So once those were removed they had to come in and take out epidural and catheter. All we can say is thank goodness all his tubes are gone cause he is such a happy camper. They will keep him overnight and continue with pain management. Hopefully by 9 am we should be checking out. The hospital staff has been amazing!!! We are soo blessed that Owen has received the best possible care and in such a kid friendly environment.
Another peaceful night of sleeping for Mr. Owen! He had to take one last wagon ride at 10:30 pm before crashing around 11 pm. It was a so nice to have a night with out beeping and nurses coming in every hour...I think we all 3 were able to catch up on some much needed sleep. We are hoping for a more comfortable day for Owen. Yesterday afternoon he became restless and was a little constipated but now that we think we have that under control...we are hoping for a good day :)
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Owen really enjoyed his visit with his big brother today. They were able to play some video games in the bed together. Drake even got to take Owen on a wagon ride. Drake told "O" that his bright green cast was pretty cool!!! Owen is resting peacefully from his big day. We are trying our best to keep him as comfortable as possible.
Owen had a great night. He slept peacefully and the nurses checked on us every hour. Thank goodness they are changing it to every 2 hours today. He ate goldfish and jello around 11am (7 hours after surgery and keep it all down). Around 4 am he was awake and ready to play so the nurse brought us a wagon and we went on a ride around the hospital. He smiles and laughed the whole way...it was soo nice to see his sweet little personality. This morning Owen woke up and has scarfed downed 3 pieces if bacon, some sausage, and eggs...so he has definitely gotten his appetite back. The nurses, doctors, and us could not be more pleased. We are soo proud of our little man. His only frustration is that the cast is very high on his waist so he can not sit up. That makes him mad but he is easily distracted. We are patiently waiting on his big brother to get here. Owen is ready to see Drake!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
We just spoke with the surgeon, everything that he was hoping to accomplish was successful! He was very pleased. We will come back in 2-3 weeks for x-rays. Then we will come back in 6 weeks for another follow up to see if the cast can be removed. This is the FIRST STEP to get Owen moving. Owen was a trooper. We should get to see him in 10-15 minutes and we can't wait.
Mary Jane
Friday, January 11, 2013
I just wanted to let everyone know that the surgery is set for January 16th at 9:30am Eastern Standard time. We will leave on Tuesday morning early so that we can get to Lexington in time for Owen to be at Shriners for his pre-op testing by 3:30pm. During pre-op he will have blood work and x-rays, then we can enjoy our evening and maybe even swim at our hotel. Drake will be with us for a couple of days in Lexington so he can check in on his brother then he is off to play with his cousins till we get Owen home and settled. Attached is a picture of Owen's first shoe lift from 18 months old, then his first prosthetic from when he was 2 years old, and his latest prosthetic that he received at age 3. What a journey this has been! Each step has gotten us closer to the surgery day. We have traveled all over visiting doctor after doctor seeking the best medical options for Owen. From Baltimore for lengthening, then South Carolina for a second opinion, which then lead us to Scottish Rite in Dallas to explore Rotation Plasty, and now Lexington for amputation....all I can say is WOW the things parents do to give their children the very best! I truly believe in my heart that we are doing the very best for Owen. This surgery will give him all the opportunities for him to succeed in whatever path he chooses. I am excited to see the man that Owen becomes. He has already blessed our lives so much and he is only 3 years old. He has the sweetest personality, is soo loving, has a contagious laugh, and he can even be a little mischievous (don't let those brown eyes fool you...he knows exactly what he is doing). He is our little "O" that we LOVE soo much! Thank you for all your support, love, and prayers through this journey! We are soo glad you have been apart of this and do not know what we would have done without you. I will do my very best to update this site as much as possible while we are in Lexington. From the bottom of our hearts we Thank You!
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