Lucy and her Leg

This past Sunday, mid-afternoon, Lucy began complaining of a sore leg.  She was complaining that the top of her right thigh was hurting.  Well naturally, like any good mother would do, I sweetly told her to “shake it off.”  But by bedtime she would not bear any weight on that leg at all.  After some contemplating Tyler and I decided to give her some pain medicine and check things out the next morning.

I knew she hadn’t had some big bad fall…I didn’t think she had twisted or pulled it but I DID know that something was wrong.  She was very constant with not putting any weight on that leg.  Monday morning she woke up and when she tried to get out of bed she just fell to the floor.  I called Lucy’s pediatrician, Dr. Klingler, and he agreed to see us at 9:30 that morning.  When he saw her and how much pain she was in he ordered both x-rays and blood work.  His predictions were...a fracture OR an infection that had settled in her hip.  While I wasn’t very excited about either possibility I was eager to find the culprit of her pain and get her better.

Late Monday afternoon we got a call from the clinic and they informed us that her blood work looked ok and the x-ray showed no apparent fracture.  However, it did show a sizable bone cyst…bone cyst?!?!  The recommendation was to seek a specialists opinion at a bigger hospital.  Within 24 hours we had an appointment scheduled for Friday (today) with a Dr. David Greenberg at Cardinal Glennon in St. Louis.

All week I was sick…I searched the internet for every type of bone cyst and what they could mean.  Everything I read always included the word… benign.  While I was still concerned that did give me a bit of comfort.  We also received an e-mail message from Tyler’s cousin, who is also a pediatrician, reassuring us that bone cysts are quite common but the primary concern is her pain because typically they do not cause pain unless there is a fracture.

By Wednesday night Lucy was starting to bear some weight on her right leg but obviously compensating for her discomfort.  Thursday night was the same…finally starting to venture out and try to walk some.  My concern then was how oddly her leg turned to the side and how she would seem to drag it along with her.

Today was the big day.  Lucy was a brave little girl!  We arrived and met two very kind doctors…they explained to us what they think is going on…Lucy has what is called a unicameral bone cyst.  Typically children that have them don’t even know they do until they have x-rays performed for some other reason and there it is!  The concern with Lulu’s cyst is the location.  The cyst is inside the bone and is rather large.  It can “hallow” out that bone and cause it to fracture easily.  Dr. Greenberg says there is a 50/50 chance Lucy will have to have her leg operated on.  The good news is that this means there is a 50% chance it will heal on it’s own with no problem. (I'm sure you all had that figured out...BUT it's just exciting and I'M not very good with fractions so it was a revelation to me!)  IF her leg were to break in that weak spot, Dr. G, says it might be a good thing because sometimes if there is a break and the leg is set the cyst might heal itself.  But of course I don’t wish for a broken leg.  He suggests that the culprit for her pain right now is a small crack that isn't even visible on the film. Dr. Greenberg says Lucy should be able to walk like normal in 2 to 3 weeks once it heals.  PLEASE if you are the praying kind keep my little girl in your prayers!  She is one half of my everything and I need her well!  I just want her to be able to walk and play and dance and do anything she wants to do!  

I’m praising God today for such wonderful news AND the wonderful people that all came together to help my baby girl AND her family deal with this little issue! 

 This is actually a picture of Lu's x-ray.  

You can see that on her left leg the top of her femur is nice an white and on her right leg there is a big dark spot.  The dark spot is the cyst inside that bone...it's rather scary how weak the outer edges look...

After a successful appointment today we decided to treat Lucy to Build a Bear and Olive Garden spaghetti!  She chose to make herself a monkey that we so lovingly named PEG….as in PEG LEG.  That’s what she looks like today…like she has a peg leg.  Tyler, Mom and I got a real kick out of that…but we were all really tired too...

Anyway during our dinner my phone rang.  I knew it was someone checking on Lucy and when I answered the phone I was surprised yet delighted to hear Dr. Klingler, Lucy's regular physician, on the other end of the line.  He called to see how the appointment went, what we learned and how her pain was today... WHAT DOCTOR DOES THAT?!  I have never been so impressed with a health professional in my life!  He treated Lucy as if she were his only patient when in fact I'm sure he services the majority of Clay County's little ones.  I was overwhelmed by his sincerity and compassion for my child.  He is a blessing to our little community that is for sure!

 Lucy and Peg the Monkey

 Peg's solo shot

 I had to post these to prove what a little tech nut Lucy is...I swear this kid is Tyler all OVER!

Poor little Will looks drunk...the rest of us feel drunk...but aren't, I PROMISE!

YO-YO Master

 I had to post this and tell you that Lucy is such a good big sister...here's the conversation going on here

Will: "Ugh, Lucy, ugh"  

Lucy: (15 octaves higher than her normal voice) "Well, thank you bubba! THANK YOU...that's a good boy!!!  

(back to normal voice) Mom..MOM did you see that? Will gave me dis and I called him a good boy!"

And last but not least these little babies are my gift for surviving today! 

(NO they're not for me they're Lucy's...but I just LOVE them...and I guess if they had my size I'd have a pair too ;)