Kiara Had a lenghtening surgery on March 31st, 2006, she had 11 pins put in her right leg and I lenghtened her leg 8 cm wich was the max we could do! She removed the fixator on November 2007...yes it was a long road for Kiara but she overcame every pain and obstacle that came her way... she had two other surgeries in between, One for the toes that started to bend and the other for some bone craft that was put in to close the crack that was made for the lenghtening. She Had some pin infections along the 20 months that she had the fixator on and she was lucky enough that I am a nurse and thank God learned a lot about pin infections before getting involved. One thing i learned from this... everything is possible when you do it for your children...Kiara removed the fixator and now only has a brace to support her ankle since she has no Ankle bone. Her leg is very thin and has 13 big marks from the pins... but she has her real leg... She is very happy about it she can wear shoes and boots with no lifts! But still we have a long way to go and always keep our eyes open for any changes... she is trying to get used to it so she still hops around and skips with her leg... Dr.Brian Snyder at childrens is the author of such sucess I have always trusted him but u always have to question them and always ask for other possibilities when it involves surgery or anything going to your childs body... always have another brain with u in the room... When You are under stress We tend to just say yes and shake our heads so if there is a piece of advise I could give anyone is to always bring another person with you to this appointments take notes and ask questions!
The whole process was very difficult... the most difficult time was the day i saw Kiaras Leg at the hospital without the Fixator...It was too thin... it didn't look like what i expected it... or wanted to be! I would tell anyone today that has this problem that I am very thankful to God and the Doctors for what they did for Kiara so far... I am very lucky that she has done so well... except I was looking for a perfect Leg and that is pretty impossible... I learned to accept my daughters problem... and I'll do everything possible to help her achieve this, this children deserve all the Love in the world and everyone around her loves her very much! To anyone that needs help information or can help us further Kiaras case please write to me I would love to help and be helped dealing with this!
Sonia Franco(Kiara Rubinos Mother)