Surgery Rescheduled

We visited the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis for the second time last week. Lily’s surgery has been rescheduled to January, and I am thankful that we have the holidays to enjoy before the procedure.

This visit wasn’t nearly as stressful and emotional as the visit in June. We met Lily’s new doctor, learned more details about the surgery and toured the hospital.

The doctor said something interesting. She said surgery for torticollis isn’t something the Shriners Hospital treats nearly as often as foot, hip and leg problems. I find that interesting because we are in this situation now because I had no knowledge of torticollis. I had never heard anyone talk it, and I couldn’t find answers on the Internet. Yes, Lily’s primary care physician said Lily wasn’t turning her head properly but she didn’t label it.

Since I learned about torticollis, I have heard of three other babies in the Tulsa area who were also born with it. Those parents and babies were blessed to have doctors who referred them immediately to PCPs. Many times I have thought to myself, “If only those babies would have been born before Lily, I would have known what to do.”

I hope our story gives you information that you can pass to others, helping children get the physical therapy they need before surgery becomes the only “fix.”

Our newest guest blogger, Cindy, wrote an article in our October issue about her daughter’s victories and struggles with Torticollis. Come back and read more from Cindy in the next two weeks…

Cindy’s Bio: I am a wife, mother, writer, photographer, part-time instructor and graduate student. When I have free time, I like to play “Annie” with Lily or cook delicious, you-never-miss-the-wheat, gluten-free meals. I also like to sing and tinker with my acoustic guitar.