Letter to My Son

Dear Little Troy,

By the time you are able to read this letter you will not even realize what a struggle you went through to be able to walk normally so I decided to write you a letter and explain what we know thus far. The day you were born was the happiest day of my life but the next day was filled with fear and anticipation. We were told you had been born with a birth defect, you have a clubbed foot. Your mom thought for a week that your foot was just squished and would straighten out on its own.  After three weeks we finally got a consultation with Dr. Schowalter and he told us you have idiopathic club foot and he felt that he could correct it so that you will be able to walk. He felt that your mom was so tiny when she got pregnant that you we too crowded in her tummy and your foot got stuck in that position and didn’t develop properly. He said it doesn’t hurt you and by gradually rotating it back in place it will give you the best chance for a complete recovery.

                At your first appointment he put a cast on your left foot up to your thigh. You were trying to finish your bottle and weren’t very happy. We had to take your diaper off so they could fit the cast and being the little Skovgard that you are, you proceeded to fill your pants the table and the doctor’s arm. This became your signature move each week as you got a new cast put on. Your doctor and his nurse Lelani were such good sports but just in case they scheduled you at the end of the day each week! We joked that girls like boys in casts so even at this age you are a ladies’ man like your dad. The first few times they removed the casts the buzzing of the saw startled you but you didn’t cry. By the last week when she turned it on you began to fuzz even before she touched you. After the last cast came off your little leg was so tiny, so much smaller than the right one. You had a large lump on your thigh which the doctor quickly explained was your big muscle that had developed from you tossing the cast around. Your Aunt Heather and grandma encouraged me to take pictures each time so one day you will be able to see the weekly progress.  I don’t think the cast hurts you because you seem quite content and I’m glad it was not summer so you won’t sweat in the heat. There have been times that I know you are uncomfortable and I wish I could take that away.

                Last week you were fitted for a brace that you have to wear 23 hours a day for the next three months. You have little custom made shoes that fit into a bar that the doctor can manipulate to rotate your feet. After three months you will only have to wear it at night. If all goes as planned, you will not need surgery to correct the tendon. We are excited that the brace will be off before you start to crawl however the doctor said many kids crawl with the brace. I know this is going to be a struggle but we are going to do everything possible to make sure you can walk. You are such a happy baby and have brought so much joy to our lives.   

I love you to the moon and back!

Daddy