Running to Jade

My father in law has 10 siblings. They are a crazy, fun, hillbilly bunch. When Ivan was about six years old he developed Perthes disease. It is a condition where the hip doesn't get proper blood flow and the hip bone "dies".  Ivan was sent to Mary Free Bed for almost two years. He spent his days in traction and other exercises to encourage regrowth of his left hip. Can you imagine being separated from your family for almost two years, only visiting once a week? He missed them terribly. At Mary Free Bed, Ivan was part of a large ward of boys, his second family. He has said that the boys would make up games and rough house as much as possible. I wonder how those nurses kept the peace in that ward. There was one nurse in particular who especially loved Ivan. A few years ago he found her and called to talk with her. It was a sweet reunion.

Ivan finally went home and resumed life with his family. His left leg is shorter than his right, but don't tell Ivan that. I keep thinking that he would benefit from a hip replacement but he won't do it. I think he's used to it after 70 years. Ivan must love a challenge. In high school Ivan's cross country team won the state title twice. Ivan was the state champ in the one mile, running it in 4:36. He ran the two mile in 10:10.

I write this because it has occurred to me that Jade will have something in common with her grandpa. She had surgery on both her feet last spring. We were able to ask her care givers how she handled the surgery. She did well. She experienced a lot of pain, but is on the mend. She is wearing braces on her feet/legs.

Jade is going to move slower than most. She will have a hard time walking, I don't know for how long. What I do know is that Jade will have family to encourage her. Her grandpa will know firsthand what it's like to walk "funny". While not having her grandpa's overcomer genes in her DNA, she will have his overcomer attitude and lifestyle to mimic. She will not be "different" to us. She will be Jade, our chosen daughter. I can't wait for her to meet her family. I can't wait to see her on the soccer field or dance floor. I can't wait to watch her chase AJ around. No matter how fast she is, or smooth her gate, she will run perfectly.