There is no stopping Bailey’s desire to walk

Bailey Tumber’s introduction into the world has been nothing short of miraculous. The energetic two-year-old was born with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) coupled with congenital spina bifida and club feet.

The child’s hip joint has not formed normally. Similar to a car’s tyres wearing out faster when they are out of alignment, DDH prevents the hip joint from functioning properly, causing the joint to wear out faster than normal.

As a result, she has had to endure a number of surgeries to correct her condition. This has not proved easy for her family and has been financially taxing for dad Hugon and mom Candice.

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Lowvelder wrote an article last year about the family’s plight and donations have poured in that helped with Bailey’s hip dysplasia open reduction surgery at Nelspruit Mediclinic.

The condition has affected Bailey’s mobility and her indisputable desire to walk and play with siblings Ross and Demi-Jade. According to Candice, Bailey’s last operation was conducted on November 27 and proved to be an anxious three hours of nervousness for the mother of three.

“I was anxious, scared and worried, because she needed the procedure in order for the side of her leg to be opened so that the hip could be put back into the socket,” Candice said.

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She added that she had listened to every sound as she waited outside the theatre, praying that nothing had gone wrong.

After what seemed like an eternity, the operation was over and she could not wait to hear how Bailey had responded to it.

“I cried tears of relief, because it was an interminable wait with no-one telling me how it all went.”

Bailey made her way home with casts on both legs, and it was time for the healing process to begin. At times this proved difficult, as she is an extremely active toddler who wants nothing more than to play with her brother and sister.

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“Bailey is responding well, as the post-operative X-rays showed a huge improvement in her condition. She is crawling and standing even with the casts on both her legs.

”Depending on her post-operative response, Bailey’s casts will be removed after a six-week period that will determine just how successful the operation was.

“She is very active. Nothing is holding her back. Her determination to move is an indication of the strength and resilience balled up in her two-year-old frame,” Candice concluded