My baby is having his leg amputated this year AMA

[Csx99]

Just that really, would love to answer any questions you have and hopefully this thread may be useful to someone else going through the same thing in the future

Why? If you don’t mind me asking. And, how do you feel?

Can only imagine how difficult that would be

How old is he?

And how are you coping? Are you okay?

Hope it goes ok

Wow, you sound amazing in your first post. How old is he? I hope you are ok. x

I am so sorry. I hope the surgery goes well and rehab is helpful for you all. I hope you are ok, this must've been a tough journey for you.

@GreyhoundG1rl

That sounds hard, but why do you think people want the gory details? How will that help you?

Sharing can help.

@GreyhoundG1rl

That sounds hard, but why do you think people want the gory details? How will that help you?

It says in the op, ‘this thread may be useful to someone else going through the same thing in the future’.

I think that’s really quite nice.

I can tell you’re an amazing mum op. Look at your smile through it. I’m inspired at how you manage to stay strong

@GreyhoundG1rl

That sounds hard, but why do you think people want the gory details? How will that help you?

It may help the OP to talk about it, and help someone else going through the same thing

@GreyhoundG1rl

That sounds hard, but why do you think people want the gory details? How will that help you?

And how many people will completely avoid talking about it with the OP? I'm sure this thread will be therapeutic to the OP.

(That should day "completely avoid in real life...")

No one has asked for "gory details". If you can't say anything nice, then please don't say anything at all.

OP - do you have other children and how have you spoken to them about it? And how easy/hard will it to be to adapt your house?

How old is your son @Csx99?

I can't imagine the thoughts that are reaching through your mind about what the future holds for your family.

Have you had professional support to help you/your DS (if he's old enough to understand) adjust to the changes that will come?

What a tough situation, you seem great.

Can I ask why he needs an amputation and what support will be provided afterwards?

Has he 'used' this limb ? Will he have to relearn to walk?

@GreyhoundG1rl

It's not about sharing 'gory details'. I'm 21 years old and the first of my friends to have a baby so when I found out about my baby's disability I searched mumsnet for guidance/support and I could hardly find any threads, it definitely would have helped me back then especially since his disability is 1 in 40,000-50,000 but I can understand why you'd be confused at my post

Wow didn't expect such a big response! My son is currently 8 months old and was born with a disability called Fibular Hemimelia - complete absence of the fibula bone, a very short tibia and major foot deformities. His leg length difference was too big for bone legnthening but we always knew amputation was the best option in order for him to live a better quality of life

I am feeling okay to be honest! It was extremely hard at the start, my pregnancy was rough finding out at the anomaly scan and the first few months of his life I battled with PND. But since seeing his consultant in December I am feeling a lot more positive about it as it will be a new chapter of his life

OP - do you have other children and how have you spoken to them about it? And how easy/hard will it to be to adapt your house?

No I don't have other children, I am only 21 years old and he is my first, however I do have an 8 year old sister who I am extremely close to that we have had to sit down and explain - she has been amazing and so accepting

He will be getting a prosthetic leg a couple of months after the op and will learn to walk with this, as there's no chance of him walking before that surgery (he's only 8 months old atm and his disability prevents him from walking or standing unaided) so it should be a lot easier for him

Have you had professional support to help you/your DS (if he's old enough to understand) adjust to the changes that will come?

He's currently 8 months old and will be having the surgery 12m+ so he won't understand (thankfully!) however I will be having counselling

Has he 'used' this limb ? Will he have to relearn to walk?

He's only 8 months old and he can crawl but he will never be able to stand or walk atm due to the limb length difference and major foot deformities. He will learn to walk for the first time when he gets his prosthetic leg post-op hopefully some time after the summer

I hope you don't mind OP but I did a quick back search to see it could answer a few questions incase you didn't get a chance to update.

I hadn't heard of the condition before and couldn't find many other posts on MN about it either so it's definitely helpful to bring awareness to it.

I see that your DS is only young so hopefully after initial trauma should adapt well to his new path. Do you plan to introduce prosthetics in time or leave it to him to decide?

I can tell you’re an amazing mum op. Look at your smile through it. I’m inspired at how you manage to stay strong

Thankyou so much. Some days are harder than others but we've come such a long way and I'm excited to start this new chapter of his life