Briella’s Lengthening Surgery
Donation protected
Briella was born with tibial hemimelia (missing part of her tibia bone). This is a rare condition that occurs in about 1 in every 1 million live births.
When Briella was born, her right foot was crooked and her right leg was shorter than the left. We saw multiple doctors who all told us to amputate her leg. When she was about 1 1/2 years old, we found a surgeon who specializes in saving limbs.
Briella has had multiple surgeries, including straightening her foot, lengthening her leg, and a reconstruction surgery. On July 25, 2024, Briella will have another lengthening surgery in Florida. This will require us to go to Florida for 3 months for the surgery and physical therapy. The cost of the surgery (even with insurance), and relocating to Florida adds up, so we are raising money to offset the expenses.
Why Florida?
While there is nothing wrong with amputation, we didn’t feel like it was right for Briella. All the surgeons we saw would only amputate. People travel all over the world to Florida to see Dr. Paley and his team, as they specialize in saving limbs.
What is lengthening?
The lengthening process entails a surgery where the surgeon breaks the bone and puts in a device. Over about 3 months, we will slowly lengthen the bone, aiming to get 5cm or growth. After the 3 months, the next 3-4 months is the consolidation phase where the new bone hardens. During this time, Briella will be in a wheelchair/crutches, as she will not be able to put weight on her leg.
Organizer
Jessica Angsomwine
Organizer
Cypress, TX