How would a 5yr old manage if she lost her big toe?

[mommy6]

My DN managed to drop a breeze block on her big toe,on sat afternoon.
She had a op on sat night to stop bleeding,but has damaged the nerves and bone.Doc's not sure yet if they can save her toe.If they can they have said she will be in a wheelchair for upto 6 mths.
She has to have another op tomorrow.
If she loses her big,would it make walking difficult?

Gosh, that's a tough one and I have no answers for you, but I'm sure this is something that has happened before to others and must be do-able.
I do hope her toe can be saved though, even though it will be a tough six months for all of you.

Incidentally, my Ds when he was 17 months old, cut the end of his thumb off(up to the joint)in a letter box. He spent an hour and a half in theatre and I was told that he could get infection in the bone as it went deep and if he did, they'd have to amputate it. He and I were lucky! he kept it and you'd barely know he'd done it after a year.

Good luck, I hope all is well.

I am guessing it is something she will learn to accomodate but might well walk with a limp and have not quite so good balance.

When I was 5 I dropped a sledgehammer on my big toe - it seems I was lucky in that it only hurt like hell and the nail came off. No lasting damage.

Thank you solo,it's good to hear your ds's thumb recovered so well.
It's been a hard and long weekend.Not only have i had my own lo's,i have been helping look after SIL's other lo's.So 9 children altogether.SIL's youngest 2 are 17mths and 4 weeks,so been very busy.lol
Hopefully i'll have chance to see my DN today some time.

You are brave! I find it tough enough just dealing with my two - 9.10years and 17 months......I really couldn't cope with my nieces and nephew

Your poor neice!!!! And you all. No real advice but wishing you all lots of love and the best recovery xxx.

The big toe is more important than the others for walking and balance generally, but I'm sure if it does have to be amputated then the hospital will be able to help her to adapt to it and shift her balance more to the outside of her foot to compensate. It would mean that things like sport and dancing would be trickier for her though

WOW! SIL of the year award to mommy6 please!

I would imagine she would find balance quite difficult at first but she would soon learn to adapt.

lets all just hope it doesn't come to that.
Fingers crossed for her.

It's a good job my dd1 who is 17yr was at home to help me.Or i would have been pulling my hair out.lol
I think they all knew that i needed them to be good,they were golden all weekend.Even the baby,and i'm used to having a house full.

I just can't wait to see my DN now.She has been a star,even when her mom goes home she doesn't moan.It's been so hard for SIL to leave her but with the baby she needs to go home sometimes.Somebody has always been with DN though,so she isn't left on her own.

Just had a phone call to say DN is having another op today.She should be having an op tomorrow.Not sure if this one is the one they were going to do tomorrow.Or if something has happened today,lending them to take her down early.
So i will not see DN tonight now.Fingers crossed they can save her toe.

My stepdad managed to cut his big toe off with a lawnmower. Walking backwards, tripped over a low wall into a pond and automatically held on to lawnmower, pulling it on to his foot. They were unable to re-attach it. He got used to it within a couple of months (although initially he had some balance problems) and didn't walk with a limp. He did however have to put up with much mickey taking for many years.

Awful awful thing for your niece, so much worse when they're little and perfect, but if they can't save it I'm sure she'd adjust fairly quick. Wishing her luck.

Thank you dilbertina.I will be sad for her if she loses her toe,with the sunny days ahead.(we hope)She is such a girly girl,likes to wear pretty flipflops.

But with OJ losing Steve today,it makes you so glad your family is otherwise healthy and fit.