In 2003 I had my daughter six weeks early. While I was pregnant I was told she had clubfeet but this was something that could be corrected later. I was also offered an amniocentists test to determine if my baby had down's syndrome. It wasn't until after I had my baby that I realised I was only offered this because they had my date of birth down wrong, they put me as 20 years older. When my daughter was born I was shocked to discover that she had 3 missing fingers on each hand and two toes missing on her right foot as well as the clubfeet. On her right hand she had only her thumb and little finger with stumps for the 2nd and 3rd and then a ring like bubble for the fourth. On her left hand, again had a thumb and little finger and the middle three were webbed together. The day she was born she was plastered on her feet and a specialist came to look at her hands. She still had some of the amniotic banding wrapped round the bubble which was cut off. For the first year of her life it was back and fourth to the hospital to have weekly check up's on both her hands and feet.

CLUBFOOT SURGERY:
Miah's first surgery was when she was 3 months on both her feet to try to straighten them out. She sailed through it, it was me who was more nervous. After having the plaster taken off they found it hadn't taken too well on her left foot, which had always been the worse. I was told she was to have more surgery when she was 5 months. Again she sailed through it but was disappointed when they said it wasn't getting any better. They decided to try her with the dreaded boots and bar which she wore after a while but it still didn't make any difference. Just after her 1st birthday she went to have another operation on her left foot. This time it was a bit more successful and was told she would only have to wear the boots and bar at night now.

HAND SURGERY:
When she was 16 months old Miah had the first surgery done to her hands. Her plastic surgeon decided to try to reduce some of the bubble to make it look  thinner and also to seperate her 2nd finger on her left hand. Miah came out of the opeartion so well and even learned to walk with her arm in a sling. Six months after she went back to have the third finger separated, again she was fine about it. 

Finally in February this year bacause her feet were still not that good she had to have muscles in her feet moved. she was off her feet for 3 weeks, this was the hardest operation she has had. How do you keep a three year old off her feet for 3 weeks! I also found it very hard because i gave birth to my second daughter a week after her op, she was three weeks early but everything was fine with her. I've been told that Miah will never have normal fingers and will still require surgery on her feet. She's waiting for some splints which she'll have to wear to try to keep her foot in position. Her plastic surgeon has told me she wont be doing any more ops at least until she's older and it will be more her decision. I think she means there's nothing more that can be done for her.

Miah is a very happy three year old and a typical one if that! she has asked me where her toes are and I've said they were lost in Mommy's belly.  She doesn't realise her hands are any different yet, well I think she does but only to a certain extent.

I always teach her not to say she can't do something without trying. I want her to try to do anything she wants to. Miah is a confident girl who loves nursery, is always laughing and full of life. I just hope she does't lose that confidence as she gets older or let other people take that away from her. I would love to hear from other parents. May God bless each and every child of His that's brought into this world.