This is Sydney . . . . she is an adorable 14 month old girl from Maine who is staying in Florida with either her mom or dad depending on the week. Sydney came to Florida in May so that she could have reconstructive surgery on her deformed leg. When Sydney was born into her family of an older sister and brother she arrived with a leg that was twisted at the knee and ankle. No way would Sydney have ever been able to walk and when her mom and dad started inquiries about "fixing" Sydney's leg they were told by doctor after doctor. "AMPUTATE".
As a parent I know that would have been the last thing I would ever choose for my child. So Sydney's parents continued their search until by chance they were given the name of a doctor in West Palm Beach, Florida who has performed one of a kind surgeries on children with similar problems. Doctor Paley and his team have been working on this innovative surgery for years, starting their practice in Baltimore, MD. For what ever reasons the good doctor and most of his staff relocated to West Palm and are working out of St. Mary's hospital, just down the road from where we live. After visiting with Dr. Paley and his team Sydney's parents were told by the doctor that they would take on Sydney as a patient, possibly for as many as the next 15 years.
Now came the questions of how Sydney's family would manage living in Florida for at least 4 months while Sydney went through the initial surgery and rehab. A commute from Maine to Florida just doesn't work on a daily basis. Then there is the fact that mom and dad both work and there are 2 other children who attend school. But when it involves your child it is amazing what parents will manage.
This is about the time that Ger and I were brought into the picture. Our dear friends Gloria and John knew about Sydney because their oldest son is friends with Sydney's dad. Once Glo heard about what was going on she contacted us to see if we knew of some place where Sydney and her parents could stay for 4 months in our area in Florida. The prospect of paying $150 a night at local hotels was out of the question. Ger and I immediately thought of our sons condo just down the road from us and only 20 minutes from St. Mary's hospital. Glo sent our email address to Sydney's parents and we were off and running. Turns out our son's condo wasn't a good fit because it is on the third floor with no elevator. After her surgery Sydney would be in a "halo fixator" that is a sort of wire contraption with wires inserted into her leg bones. Carrying her and her stroller up and down 3 flights of stairs would just not work. Sooooooooooo the next thought we had was my cousin in NY who owns a beach front condo that is usually vacant. I called my cousin, she called Sydney's dad and we had a match! My cousin even put off her vacation for a month just so Sydney's family wouldn't have to move out in the middle of Sydney's recovery.
At this point Sydney has survived the first surgery that is straightening her knee and ankle. He leg looks almost straight which is a miracle if you had seen her before all this began. The first month was rough for all of her family. Mom and dad were both down here at first with grand parents and extended family helping out in Maine trying to keep things normal for Sydney's siblings. Sydney was in the hospital for a while and in a lot of pain. The pain meds turned her off food so she wasn't eating and since she was just learning to eat "people" food this was a real rough time for her. Mom had to return to work, dad stayed here. Then mom came down with her dad so mom could work from Florida while grandpa took care of Sydney. Then dad came back . . . you get the picture.
A few weeks ago the whole family was able to be in Florida together and the "big kids" (who are only 3 & 5) got to go to Disney and Kennedy Space Center. (Sydney stayed at the condo with grandpa.)
I think I would have lost my mind long before this but this family has such wonderful support from everyone they meet. Sydney's dad was telling us tonight that his good friends from college have donated all their "frequent flier miles" to him and his wife so they can afford to fly back and forth to Maine. Dad also told me about the manager at Gold's gym who got to know Dad and Sydney for the month when dad was here alone with Sydney. When Sydney's dad returned to the gym this past week with Sydney he was told that he can work out for free any time he is down here. The manager was so moved by Sydney and her family he wanted to do something to help.
And as for Sydney, she is just the tinyest little thing with HUGE blue eyes who is so easy going. Tonight we went to dinner with her and her dad and she charmed everyone around us. Like all one year olds she is pulling herself up and attempting to walk even though she has something akin to and upside down Eiffel Tower attached to her leg. Oh, and her appetite is back full time. Tonight she had baby food chicken mix, peaches, hummus and some sort of baby cheerios and she still wanted what we were having.
WAY TO GO SYDNEY !
No comments:
Post a Comment