On Monday 19th December we were given more information on Joni-Mai's surgery. Part of her treatment is the removal of her tumour and because it is within her bone, she will need the bone taken away and replaced with a prosthetic. Initially we believed that a part of the shaft was what was to be removed but after our clinic appointment, we were told that she would need more than a part of the shaft replacing.
In the last week of February, Joni-Mai will be going to the RNOH in Stanmore. Unfortunately for her, she will have to have a hip replacement. From half way up from the knee to the joint, the bone will have to be removed and replaced with a metal prosthetic bone. This will mean that her hip will need replacing in about 5-6 years time, again in her teens and once more in her early 20's due to growth and then beyond this, we expect replacements every 9-11 years. Hopefully in this time, technology and science will progress enough so that hip replacements will last for longer than the 9-11 years that they do, now. This was a blow for us, as we expected she would be finished her treatment in a year and it will be complete after this. We had no idea that once she'd had her surgery, we'd have to endure more.
While we are happy that she's on the road to recovery, it is awfully hard knowing that this has impacted on the rest of her life and would mean that she could have difficulties for the rest of her life. So for now, we are seeing Joni-Mai through her chemotherapy and putting the surgery to the back of our minds.
I for one, am finding it difficult to come to terms with but I know, she's in the best possible hands and a hip replacement is better than the alternative...
Oh Holly :( I understand this news must have been really hard for you. And, you know, I believe that miracles can happen.... they could get in there and decide that actually less needs removing and that she doesn't need a hip replacement after all... sometimes they change their prognosis once they actually open someone up. So I will pray really really hard that she can keep her own hip. If she has to have a replacement, it's not the end of the world, but I believe in prayer, and I believe in miracles, and I will pray for your Joni and her precious bones xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's any help to hear this but I know from my experience with prosthetics that the little ones usually do very well in rehabilitation. They tend to just get on with it and accept it far better than us adults. As shocking as the whole thing is the procedure will probably not stop your determined little Joni doing exactly what she wants to do with her life post operation. I'm here if you need to talk to me. xxx
ReplyDelete