Zackary's Journey
Donation protected
A quick background for those who don't know all the details about Zackary Titus Miller.
He was born 3 months early (at 27 weeks) weighing 1 lb 12 oz and spent 88 days in the NICU. During that time he got a staph infection that infected the bone in his right elbow and left hip and caused the bones to be eaten away. He has limited motion in his right elbow and does not have a hip joint or femural head in his left hip. Since the day the infection was found he has had multiple surgeries trying to help get rid of the infection and repair the damage that was done. This created 14 surgeries before the age of 5!
There were successes and failures and after the last set of procedures Zackary was given 6 years off to heal before any future surgeries. That brings us to the present, his body has grown and healed enough for those 'future' surgeries to begin.
Here's the why and where:
The first surgery will be done at the Rubin Institute of Limb Lengthening within the Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, MD. The reason for the surgery is to help with current leg discrepancy of 4 1/2+ inches, prepare for future surgeries and to lower the current pain in his back, hips, knees and ankles. This surgery is the first step in a 4 step process: 2 leg lengthenings, one leg shortening and a reconstruction of the hip.
Here's the details:
After spending 2 weeks over the summer of 2015 traveling over 4500 miles to doctors in Pittsburg, Dallas, St. Louis, and Balitmore, we were reassured that the best place for Zackary would be in Balitmore. The doctor out there, Dr Hertzenberg, has done thousands of leg lengthening procedures and has created an internal telescoping rod that has been used on over 1100 kids. It has proven to be less painful with a quicker and less severe healing time as opposed to the past external procedures.
Though the surgery as a whole is less abrassive, we will still need to stay out in Baltimore for a long period of time (up to 4 months) in order to heal completely and finish physical therapy before he is released. Since he has a past history of staph infections, we will be very vigilant and stay close to the hospital at all times.
Here's the time frame:
The whole family will be out there for the week of the surgery (spring break for school), leaving March 22nd, and then Stacy and Zackary will stay in Baltimore for the remainder of the time while Adam and Johnathan will head back to NM to continue work and school. Time and finances permitting the family plans to try and be together with Adam and Johnathan driving and flying out a few times throughout the long stay. The actual surgery date is Thursday, March 24th.
Here's where you come in:
The cost of surgery alone is not easy to take, believe me, we've had our fair share of experience in this matter! But in addition to this, the cost of living in another state for up to four months is a cost we have never incurred in the past. Although we will be staying at a Ronald McDonald-like House, there is a cost upwards of $1800 per month. We will also be needing to rent a car for the first few weeks (until Adam can drive one up). We understand hardships come for everyone but at times it seems to be more than what this one family can do alone. So thank you for considering donating whether it's in prayer, good vibes or monetary possibilities.
If you want to know more about the surgery please check out this video on YouTube: (and yes...there is supposed to be a period in the middle of "tube")
http://youtu.be/E_X8PFJGrtA
"Precise Nail Limb Lengthening"
Posted January 2, 2016
Our family is truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and our thanks go out to everyone for all your support.
He was born 3 months early (at 27 weeks) weighing 1 lb 12 oz and spent 88 days in the NICU. During that time he got a staph infection that infected the bone in his right elbow and left hip and caused the bones to be eaten away. He has limited motion in his right elbow and does not have a hip joint or femural head in his left hip. Since the day the infection was found he has had multiple surgeries trying to help get rid of the infection and repair the damage that was done. This created 14 surgeries before the age of 5!
There were successes and failures and after the last set of procedures Zackary was given 6 years off to heal before any future surgeries. That brings us to the present, his body has grown and healed enough for those 'future' surgeries to begin.
Here's the why and where:
The first surgery will be done at the Rubin Institute of Limb Lengthening within the Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, MD. The reason for the surgery is to help with current leg discrepancy of 4 1/2+ inches, prepare for future surgeries and to lower the current pain in his back, hips, knees and ankles. This surgery is the first step in a 4 step process: 2 leg lengthenings, one leg shortening and a reconstruction of the hip.
Here's the details:
After spending 2 weeks over the summer of 2015 traveling over 4500 miles to doctors in Pittsburg, Dallas, St. Louis, and Balitmore, we were reassured that the best place for Zackary would be in Balitmore. The doctor out there, Dr Hertzenberg, has done thousands of leg lengthening procedures and has created an internal telescoping rod that has been used on over 1100 kids. It has proven to be less painful with a quicker and less severe healing time as opposed to the past external procedures.
Though the surgery as a whole is less abrassive, we will still need to stay out in Baltimore for a long period of time (up to 4 months) in order to heal completely and finish physical therapy before he is released. Since he has a past history of staph infections, we will be very vigilant and stay close to the hospital at all times.
Here's the time frame:
The whole family will be out there for the week of the surgery (spring break for school), leaving March 22nd, and then Stacy and Zackary will stay in Baltimore for the remainder of the time while Adam and Johnathan will head back to NM to continue work and school. Time and finances permitting the family plans to try and be together with Adam and Johnathan driving and flying out a few times throughout the long stay. The actual surgery date is Thursday, March 24th.
Here's where you come in:
The cost of surgery alone is not easy to take, believe me, we've had our fair share of experience in this matter! But in addition to this, the cost of living in another state for up to four months is a cost we have never incurred in the past. Although we will be staying at a Ronald McDonald-like House, there is a cost upwards of $1800 per month. We will also be needing to rent a car for the first few weeks (until Adam can drive one up). We understand hardships come for everyone but at times it seems to be more than what this one family can do alone. So thank you for considering donating whether it's in prayer, good vibes or monetary possibilities.
If you want to know more about the surgery please check out this video on YouTube: (and yes...there is supposed to be a period in the middle of "tube")
http://youtu.be/E_X8PFJGrtA
"Precise Nail Limb Lengthening"
Posted January 2, 2016
Our family is truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and our thanks go out to everyone for all your support.
Organizer
Leslie R Conrad
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM