MIA
đź‘‹HIPpies, meet Mia!
👧🏻As a child, Mia went to all of her check-ups — but her #hipdysplasia wasn’t diagnosed until she was 3.
Before her diagnosis, Mia would hop, skip, and dance around, and would “bum scoot” down stairs instead of walking. Her parents always thought she was having fun — and never thought much of the fact that she did not walk.
Mia’s Mom had an “aha” moment during a preschool function where the students were holding trays and bringing them to their parents. Mia had difficulty putting the tray down, but her Mom noticed that a smaller girl did so with ease.
After that, her Mom checked her legs and noticed that one leg was longer, so she brought Mia to the doctor.
đź©şThis time the doctor did more tests, including one where they made Mia walk.
They were immediately referred to get an x-ray at BC Children’s Hospital. After the x-ray, they made an appointment with Dr. Mulpuri and the team right away.
Mia had surgery within a couple of months.
She was quite young at the time and recalls that the experience was challenging because she didn’t know what was going on and a lot of it felt confusing for her.
After surgery, Mia wore a Spica cast for several months, followed by a Rhino cruiser. Once she was done with her bracing, she used a wheelchair for a period of time.
People would often stare — likely because they’re not used to seeing a 3 year old in a wheelchair. Her Mom felt guilty about it, even though it was a normal part of her recovery.
Mia was referred to a great Physiotherapist who did water physio with her. They would practice walking under water, and even practiced walking up the stairs.
Learning how to walk again took time and dedication. But Mia embraced the challenge! Her Physio even gave her a walker which really helped while she became more stable on her feet.
Mia and her Mom shared that they felt very alone along their journey. But they met another family who had gone through the same surgery and recovery – and they are still connected!
🤗Mia and her family would love to connect and support other families who are going through a #hipwarrior journey.