Anne’s legs continue to weaken. As her legs grow, her hamstrings tighten, which make it hard for her knees to straighten. Her knee ligaments are stretched so that they no longer give her stability.
We visited the orthopedic surgeon today. This visit has started a snowball of action to help Anne get stronger. The orthopedic surgeon wrote a prescription for KFO’s (Knee-Foot-Orthotics) to give stability to her knees. We will visit the orthotist on Thursday who will make her KFO’s and deliver them to us in about a month. Then, Anne will do another round of the three-week intensive therapy in December to strengthen her quadriceps and hips. In January, her orthopedic surgeon will give Anne botox injections to loosen her hamstring muscles. And finally, I have a call into CHOA’s multi-million dollar robotics lab to start Anne on a 3-month session of intense physical therapy beginning in January. And then we will repeat the whole process this summer.
Our goal: to regain the strength Anne had before her growth spurt and to maintain strength throughout puberty. It will be an uphill climb. We are resolved to fight.
Please pray:
- For an opening in CHOA’s robotics lab that fits my work schedule. Logistically, it will be difficult to fit in two, therapy appointments a week into my full-time teaching job.
- For Anne to not hate wearing her KFO’s. It’s important for Anne to tolerate her KFO so that she can walk more often at school and at home to build strength before her December Intensive Therapy session.
- For discipline and energy for Anne, me and our family.
Anne’s story is a good story – a story of a big God saving a little girl who gives God lots of glory. The story has a good ending. We are just in a hard chapter. We continue to pray Hebrews 12:12-13 over Anne daily. Thank you for fighting along side us!!!
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Crayons In My Water 
Praying in agreement with you Kathryn!!!! God is a good, good father. Waiting with anticipation to see all HE will do in Anne’s life. :-)
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Thanks Joy!
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Praying for my little Anne!!! Please tell her the Irby’s are praying for her and love her every step of the way!!! Love you too my dear friend K!
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Love you and miss you!!!
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Wow, Anne, you get to wear colorful God-Braces. (I call them this because it’s like getting to SEE God’s hands at work, bracing up your legs, supporting you while you work together with Him.)
WOW: A partnership with God. THAT is MAJORLY cool.
And these come in all sorts of colorful options, some with designs.
You can choose something that says: LOOK WORLD: Look what God’s doing in my life! Look how marvelous and wonder-filled.
And each time you stand and walk in these KFO’s you are saying: Look what God and I are doing TOGETHER. I’m showing up. I’m putting myself out there. I’m taking super care of this body He’s given me…and He is strengthening me from the inside out. Pretty awesome stuff, Kiddo.
And the neatest thing about THIS partnership? God NEEDS you to do your part. Without you, it cannot work. How incredible is that? For God to NEED us? Wow oh Wow.
Much Love and Warm Support, and Prayer-Songs joining you in all you’ve asked, hope and dream,
Ms Lu
KFO
King’s Fantastic Opportunities
King’s Fabulous Openings (of future doors)
Now you think of some…
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Wow! Those are some amazingly encouraging words, Lu!! Eric and I read your comment together and were encouraging Anne with your words. Thank you so much. Your perspective is priceless!
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It is a beautiful post today.
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Praying for God’s guidance and strength for ya’ll.
Bro. Dave McKeithen
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We’re praying, too! Love you and love our li’l Anne!!
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Continuing to pray for sweet Anne and your family.
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I love your perspectives, Kathryn! I read the first paragraphs about the uphill climb and all the logistics that need to be worked out in these next weeks and months, and I couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all…and then the reminder about what a good story all of this is a part of. You are amazing, friend! What an encouragement you and Anne and your whole family are to me…and many others, I’m sure. Thanks for continuing to share your journey with us all through your blog. Miss you!
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