One week from today, on January 11th, is Dylan's Boyd amputation surgery. They will also be straightening his tibia at the same time. Not going to lie...I may be struggling to keep the tears back already! haha. I can only imagine the mess I will be on the day of. :) I just can't believe it's actually come. He is SO ready for this, which is a huge comfort to Bryson and I. All he wants to do is walk. He loves holding our hands and walking all over the place. We know this surgery is going to make his walking all by himself sooner a reality. So we, too, are ready for it. We know this is going to be the absolutely best thing for him. That doesn't make it any easier though. We're stressed, scared, excited, nervous...you name it, the emotion is being experienced. I'm so glad my parents will be here for it to take care of Kaden so we can concentrate on Dylan and just to have their emotional support here in person will be so great. I'm so glad Bryson is able to take a few days off from work. Things are just working out and I'm so grateful! My mom said she would stay with me for as long as I needed her and I told her she better pack a big bag cause I'm not sure I'll be ready for her to ever leave, especially since Bryson's busy season starts right after surgery and goes until April. :)
Anyway, so now we are doing the last few things we wanted to get done before surgery...making a mold of his foot, having a dear friend take some pictures of his foot, getting things organized and packed for the hospital, and trying to relax a little.
We would so appreciate a few prayers said on Dylan and our behalf. Oh...please pray that Dylan will get rid of this little cold he picked up during Christmas vacation. If he doesn't get better his surgery will be delayed and we REALLY don't want to delay it if possible. So please pray he gets better SOON! And then please pray that all goes well with surgery on Wednesday and with recovery after.
We will keep this blog updated as much as possible over the next few weeks/months, etc. to let you know his status and progress!
Thank you!!
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Glad you liked the book. We will be praying for Dylan on Sunday- we fast every Sunday so it coincides perfectly with your special fast! Go Dylan!!
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm french and I'm comming from "Make it and Love it"... I believe in God, and I want to pray for Dylan... His story and your faith touched me a lot... Excuse me for my bad english...!
ReplyDeleteHello I just ready about Dylan over at Makeit-Loveit and felt the need to pass a Moth story I just heard yesterday on to you. Maybe it will help...maybe you've already heard it. :) I thought it was awesome though! http://themoth.org/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+themothpodcast+%28The+Moth%29
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the surgery! You're in my prayers!
Clicking over from Ashley at Make It and Love It. As a mom of two little boys (3 and 9months) my heart jumped when I was reading Dylan's story. Please know that this internet stranger will be praying for Dylan, your family, and the surgeons.
ReplyDeleteHugs from afar,
Shawnna
I can't walk in your shoes, but I wish you all the best of luck with your son and his surgery. In my mind the dilemma would be that at the moment he can at least feel with his "Nemo" leg, while it does not allow perfect symmetry for "normal" walking ...
ReplyDeletehopping over from ashley's post. I wish your family the best, and will definitely be keeping your family and the doctors in my prayers. I will be checking into your blog for updates as well. I have a soft spot for little ones with special needs as I have a degree in early childhood special education, so stories like this just hit home with me. Thanks for sharing your story!
ReplyDeletepraying for God's favor in EVERY WAY on the day of your son's surgery! you sound like an amazing family!
ReplyDelete(from make it and love it)
I just read about your little Dylan on Ashley's blog, Make It and Love It. Your little guy is so precious! I can not imagine how hard this decision has been. You and your son are in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteI love that so many people have also come over here from Ashley's blog. I was praying last night for Heavenly Father to bring me to the knowledge of another one of His precious little ones who needed my prayers . . . and He, through Ashley, brought me to your sweet Dylan.
ReplyDeletePlease know that you are being lifted up to our Father, and that you are NOT alone in this journey you are about to continue on Wednesday . . . you have many, MANY more people (and angels) pulling for you than you will ever know!
~Kate from Canada~
Found your blog through Ashley's post on Make It and Love It. Thanks for sharing your son's story with the world. I know you've made a tough decision but I know Heavenly Father will be with your family. Me and my family will be praying for you and yours, especially that sweet little boy. Stay strong and remember that you are never alone in your journey!
ReplyDeleteI, too, found your story from Make It and Love It. (what sweet friends you are!) Wanted you to know that I am going to be praying for your Dylan and the whole family this week. I have a daughter with spina bifida, and we have watched her endure more than anybody should have to in a LIFETIME, much less in just 3 years. Tests, doctors, surgeries, therapies... it is so overwhelming some days. But MOST days, I count it PURE JOY to be her Mommy. You will continue to be amazed at the plan God has for Dylan, at the lives he will affect and witness to just by BEING, and at seeing His plan being carried on to completion! If you want, check out my blog to read a little bit about our little miracle kiddo... she's delightful. :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, we see orthopedic surgeons at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, TX. It is an AMAZING hospital, devoted to kids with orthopedic issues. Probably the thing I love most about it is they have in-house orthotics and prosthetics. So, we can see surgeons and orthetists all in one appointment, then go downstairs and get fitted on the same day! Also... for the past 50 years or so, everything was completely FREE. I have heard that due to recession, they might have to be looking into insurance coverage. But still, even if you don't live close, it is worth researching. Dallas is a cool place to visit! :) And you can meet lots of families through Scottish Rite that "get" what you are going through. It is an amazing place. Just some fyi.
Prayers for Dylan coming from Houston! Blessings!!!
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI heard about your story from Ashley's blog, Make It or Love It. I just wanted to send thoughts and prayers your way for you and your family.
Wishing Baby Dylan the best of luck in surgery!
And obviously I have no idea where you live... but thought I would pass that info along. Feel free to contact me if you need a blogger friend that kinda "gets it." :)
ReplyDeleteFound your blog on Make it and Love it. I feel my story is nearly identical (even our names are the same). My second child (both boys) was born with fibular hemimelia as well. His leg and foot looked almost identical to your sons. His amputation was at 13 months old as well. Reading your story just blows my mind. I have never really heard of anyone else going through it in such a similar way. You seem very prepared for what's ahead. I can tell you honestly, it's easier than you think. For me, the amputation was helpful...I felt like it was a starting place for my son. It was time to move forward. When the bandage came off after surgery and I saw his stump for the first time, that was hard, but the rest was good. My son turns 6 this month. He adjusted to a prosthetic really easily and was walking again in no time..he even re-learned to walk without a prosthetic. He can run and jump and be normal with with or without a prosthetic on. The kids at school love it. They think it's awesome. None of the worst case scenarios that played out in my mind have come to pass. My son is a healthy, active normal, well adjusted kindergartner. I posted this on my blog a few months after his surgery: http://everydaykatie.blogspot.com/2007/08/one-foot-advantage.html
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the up-coming surgery. Hearing your story was a comfort to me...It's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing these things.
Feel free to contact me if you ever need it:
kmbsmith(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi- I found you through Make it and Love it. I'm 33 weeks pregnant with #3 so of course I bawled when I read your story. I just want to tell you how amazing I think it is that you call it his lucky leg. Your optimism and hope for him are obvious and will make such a difference in the lives of each member of your family, but especially for that sweet boy, Dylan. I'll be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteI read about your sweet little boy over on Make It and Love It and had to pop over and wish you luck! It's obvious just from the one post I've read that you're an amazing mom and would do anything for that little boy. He is so lucky to have you! And isn't it great to know that your mom will drop everything for you too? Good luck to you all tomorrow! I hope everything goes smoothly for you!
ReplyDeleteJust read about Dylan in your friend Ashley's post on her Make It and Love It site. Will be praying for your entire family as well as the surgery. Remember that the Lord is holding your precious Dylan in His loving and almighty hand.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you! You are doing the right thing! Dylan is lucky to have youas his advocate!!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, read about you guys on Make It and Love It. You probably don't remember me, but my husband and I were in your ward in Rexburg a VERY long time ago! :) I don't remember what ward it was...we were in a lot of different married student wards there, but I do remember you and your husband were Sunday School teachers.
ReplyDeleteI was so surprised to see you and your story on Ashley's blog. We are praying for you and for Dylan and are so hopeful for the surgery to go well!!
I feel very touched by your story about Dylan. It is so hard to be a parent and have to make such hard decisions, and know what is best for him. I can feel the special spirit you have in your family, as you rely on your faith and trust in our Heavenly Father. I did have to share this, though. We had a little boy born in our ward over 20 years ago, and he was born with a deformed leg. They chose to amputate his leg. I remember being in Primary when he was around 5 or 6 and he would sit down in sharing time and take his prothesis off and put it in the chair next to him, like no big deal. That one moment taught me a lot. Try not to worry too much about his future, he will adapt and will develop great strengths from his experiences. I guess this is the wisdom that comes with old age ;). Your family is in our prayers and like the others thank you for sharing your feelings to help us grow as well.
ReplyDeleteMade my way from Ashley's blog as well... Posted there and now posting here - Positive thoughts coming your way from California that all goes well with Dylan's surgery.
ReplyDeleteI followed a link from Make It and Love It. BEST wishes for Dylan's surgery. My heart goes out to y'all and I'll say a prayer for you!
ReplyDeleteI am happy that Ashley linked here :)
ReplyDeleteI took a minute to read some of your posts. I just read Just Let me Cry....now I am crying(again) and I just had to leave a comment and tell you that you said what me and my husband have felt time and time again over the last year and a half. Our middle girl was born with a special leg as well. It is clubbed, short femur, bowed tibia, walks on her tipped toes and so on. She can not wear shoes even. We too call her our little Nemo because of this. And you are so right when you say that you know it could be worse, because it can, but what we and yourselves are going through is H.A.R.D.
I can not thank you enough for sharing your feelings because we do just need to cry and let it out. My heart is with you, wish you all the best on the 11th. Surgery day and there after is never easy on the parents.....we have been there. I look forward to following your journey for it just might help us to get some answers that we so desperately need for our little Madie. HUGS!!
I followed a link from MI & LI. You've got an amazing family and you are amazing mom. I'll be praying for you guys on Wednesday. Best wishes!!
ReplyDeleteMay God give you peace during his surgery and be with the surgeons and nurses. What amazing parents you are for making such a hard decision for your little boy and his quality of life. God's best to you and prayers for your little mans surgery and speedy recovery. Hugs~Amanda
ReplyDeleteI found you through Ashley at make it - love it. I am praying for you, your son, and your family. God is big and I know he still does miracles, however that might look. I will be praying on the 11th for you. God bless you and Dylan.
ReplyDeleteI also clicked on your blog from Make It and Love It. I was just reading about your sweet miracle baby and catching up on his upcoming surgery when I realized his birthday is the same as my little miracle! We tried for many yrs to conceive, and then in 2009 we met a sweet birthmom who chose us to parent her baby. Our baby girl was born Dec. 1, 2009 and has been filling our hearts with joy ever since. I will be praying for your family and I know God will wrap his arms around you all and the surgeons too and your sweet baby will have a very successful surgery! SO glad I found your blog in this time when extra prayers are needed. God Bless your sweet miracle!
ReplyDeletecame here by way of make it and love it. just wanted you to know that your family is in our prayers. i've just read over this blog and am just in tears. for many reasons, for your strength, for your sweet baby...
ReplyDeletewishing you the best of luck!!!
I too came here through Make It and Love It. Good luck! We'll be thinking of you and your family during this time.
ReplyDeleteKatie, Katie, Katie! Remember me from good old Riviera? I saw Ashley posted about a friend on her blog and wow was I surprised to see that it was actually someone I knew! Your little family is absolutely beautiful. Could Dylan be any more adorable?
ReplyDeleteI know you are a strong woman and the Lord will watch over your sweet boy. I will be praying for him...and you!
I'm a secret reader of Ashley's Make it and Love it blog.. And I just want to say, I love the title of your blog. I know it's from Nemo and it is just so appropriate. :) I spent the morning reading your blog, and it spoke to my heart. Here's me sending prayers over from Malaysia. God bless.
ReplyDelete