An Angry Witness of Perthes Disease Tamerra’s Story

The doctor said 3 to 5 years. I don’t think I heard any other words after that statement. The office chair felt more like concrete, and the fluorescent lighting stung my eyes. The colors of the room faded as a burning intensity of anger consumed my belly.

In my mind, I turned the calendar back one day and breathed in the crisp air of the February spring morning as I played with my children in our backyard. It was our 10 AM morning break from the homeschool activities. The wintry weather in northern Alabama had been pretty severe during January, so anytime there was a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, we spent our morning break outside. My four children ranged in age from 10 to 2 1/2 years old. These breaks in the school day allowed me to switch hats from educator to mother and nurturer, and to frequently just enjoy a moment of unstructured play and curiosity.

The word “surgery” brought me back to the concrete chair in the doctor’s office. My husband and I sat opposite a large desk as an orthopedic doctor explained that the femoral head of my 4-year old son’s right leg had necrotized and collapsed. Literally the top of his leg bone that connects into his hip had died and broken into fragments. Apparently there is a small genetic component, but this disease happens mostly and boys between the ages of 4 and 12. The healing process takes 3 to 5 years and, at that point, surgery may be recommended if the newly grown bone does not securely fit into the hip socket. For 3 to 5 years, my son will deal with chronic pain, limitations, potentially braces and crutches, and then maybe also face surgical repair which will lead to more pain, braces and crutches.

The longer the doctor talked, the more intense the burning in my belly became. Fortunately, my husband was there to respond to the doctor and ask questions while I sat in volcanic silence creating a plan of attack against this enemy. My Vejo Hill had no idea who it was dealing with! Every mothering fiber was activated and ready to do what the medical world called impossible.

I didn’t plan to become an expert in Perthes disease, but that is exactly what happened. I called upon resources across the country and all over the world to find a path for restorative healing for my four-year-old son.

As a family, we stood shoulder to shoulder in support and sympathy as everything changed. My 10-year-old son would piggyback him down the stairs each morning. My eight-year-old daughter would spend her reading time on the floor as he laid in his therapy devices looking at the pictures of her book as she read to him. The 2 1/2 year-old daughter learned to bring crutches to him as needed. Most importantly, my children learned grace because each family or individual prayer included a request for healing for their brother.

Through a myriad of eastern, western, modern,  ancient medicines and modalities coupled faithful prayer and fasting, my son‘s femoral head healed in 18 months. I’ll readily admit it was near impossible to wipe the smirk from my face as the orthopedic doctor was astounded at the results in such a short time. I wanted to use that concrete office chair as a rocket launch of I TOLD YOU SOs. However, in the days following my son‘s release from the orthopedic doctors care, our family realized the incredible miracle we were afforded and continued for the next several years, giving prayers of thanks and fasts of gratitude for the blessing he received.

He grew up always having hip pain and mobility limitations, but was able to still play competitive soccer and is currently married with two children of his own. His experience with his physical limitation led him down a path of health and wellness and now works as a personal trainer, as well as a program assistant for Master’s level medical students.

One day, my adult son may face a hip replacement surgery, but it was not when he was eight years old.