We are in full-force Spring Sports! Jackson is managing the high school boys volleyball team, Alora is playing with a city-league volleyball team, and Max is playing for both the middle school baseball and Little League Juniors team. We are super busy but the kids are loving their respective sports.
 |
| Jackson's Varsity Boys Volleyball Team |
 |
| Max's 2nd game for Westar's 6th-8th grade baseball team (we creamed the other team!) |
 |
| Today's view of his right hip. There is no more socket or ball of the femur. |
He's finally to the point where he knows he needs the replacement. We made an appointment with his old orthopedic surgeon at Phoenix Children's Hospital to see if he could get one last round of cortisol injections (he has to be injection-free for at least 3 months pre-replacement). After the routine x-rays, the surgeon came in and basically told us that this continues to be one of the worst hips he has ever seen. He informed us that Noah is now at end-stage osteoarthritis (stage 4) where there's no more cartilage present between his bones. So when the bones of the joint come in contact with each other they painfully rub against each other during movement. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function. The surgeon approved him for the last round of injections but told us it most likely won't be very effective. It's pretty discouraging considering all that he's been through since the age of 4, but hopefully a hip replacement later this summer will bring him better mobility and comfort.
He gets his last round of injections Wednesday, April 6th.
Noah has officially left the teenage years behind! I still can't believe it, but this once 7 lb. 7 oz. 20" little guy is now a 5'9" 20-year old! We were super glad to have Noah home from college for the weekend so we could celebrate his birthday with him. We just wish he could have stayed longer. We love you Noah!
.JPG)
