A Step Back…

We want our friends and supporters to know that Ben will have hip surgery on June 28th, followed by six weeks in a half body cast.

In a big way, this sucks. A summer lost. We had plans full of typical family summer stuff – plans made more possible by the progress Ben has made over the last few years.

But of course, there are positives. Medically this procedure is necessary, made even more necessary BECAUSE of Ben’s progress.

Ben was born with a dislocated hip. When he was 8 months old doctors debated fixing it. One doctor who we’ve made famous said “well if he’ll never walk then we don’t have to fix the hip”.

It was decided then that we would “pop the hip back in” (no surgery) and cast it in hopes the hip bone would grow around the joint and do the trick. That worked for 6 years.

But because of all the wonderful walking and standing Ben is doing on a daily basis, the pressure being put on that fragile hip has forced it to come out a bit. So we’re going to have it surgically repaired. When he recovers he’ll walk better than ever.

The VERY positive in this is 6 years ago a doctor said “if he’ll never walk then we don’t need to fix it”. Now, a doctor is saying, “Because Ben is walking, we NEED to fix his hip”.

And that is a beautiful thing.

As always, we appreciate your support … in these times more than ever.

Matt, Diane, Ben & Emily

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