The Diagnosis

Well here we are! The last week has been a whirlwind and it doesn't seem like it is going to slow down any time soon. For the sake of simplicity, here's the text of an email I sent to friends and family this week:

Hey all,
We want to update you on some stuff going on and ask for your prayers (and so you're not totally confused when you see her, in person or in pictures)! Last Thursday, we had Evie's six month checkup. As we expected, she is still packing on the weight (ringing in at exactly 20 lbs), but there was something we didn't expect. The doctor felt her right hip click, which often indicates developmental dysplasia of the hip, a congenital disorder that occurs most frequently in firstborn girls who have a family history (she does - I actually had this and was diagnosed at birth, wore a brace for four weeks, and that was it). Basically it just means the hip is messed up and can't grow properly - in Evie's case she has shallow hip sockets and her right hip is totally dislocated. When it is detected early (before six months), they usually use a brace or harness and it resolves within a few months almost always. Of course, though, Ev is not this young.
This morning we went to see a local pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and he talked with us about options - which we really don't have. Evie will have surgery on Thursday the 5th, where they'll put her under general anesthesia, inject some dye so they can see her joint, and manually move her hip back into place. If it is worse then they expect, they will go ahead and open her up and do a more extensive surgery. Afterwards, in either case, they will put a nearly-full-body cast on her for three months.
Needless to say, we are a little overwhelmed with the prospect of our sweet girl being put under anesthesia for surgery, and also with having to deal with the cast all summer. Pray for us, that we keep perspective in this situation. We are so so thankful, and remind ourselves often, that the medical issues Ev has had so far* have been very minor in the grand scheme of things. She will not ever even remember this, and it is 100% fixable. But we would greatly appreciate your prayers - that the surgery would be safe for her, that they do not have to actually open her up at all, and that she would adjust quickly to life in the cast (which we anticipate being very hard for her as she is outrageously squirmy, rolly, and generally active). We know that God has her body and health totally in His care, and we rejoice that we can trust in Him in this situation!
Thank you!
Love,
Sarah and Steve (and Ev :))

*Back in November, we noticed a large lump growing under her left eyelid - it was a hemangioma, the most common benign tumor for infants - she just takes medicine twice a day to help it go down. It is hardly noticeable and what seemed like a huge deal then is now just a minor part of our daily routine.