Hypochondroplasia kid: hello and goodbye to dreams

What is hypochondroplasia?

Hypochondroplasia is a form of short-limbed dwarfism. This condition affects the conversion of cartilage into bone (a process called ossification), particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs. Hypochondroplasia is similar to another skeletal disorder called achondroplasia, but the features tend to be milder.

All people with hypochondroplasia have short stature. The adult height for men with this condition ranges from 138 centimeters to 165 centimeters (4 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 5 inches). The height range for adult women is 128 centimeters to 151 centimeters (4 feet, 2 inches to 4 feet, 11 inches).

People with hypochondroplasia have short arms and legs and broad, short hands and feet. Other characteristic features include a large head, limited range of motion at the elbows, a sway of the lower back (lordosis), and bowed legs. These signs are generally less pronounced than those seen with achondroplasia and may not be noticeable until early or middle childhood. Some studies have reported that a small percentage of people with hypochondroplasia have mild to moderate intellectual disability or learning problems, but other studies have produced conflicting results.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

hello and goodbye to dreams

I was thinking after my last geneticist appointment how good everything with Coleman has gone. I remember how that first visit was and how scared I felt. I remember the word hypochondroplasia coming out of the doctors mouth and wondering if he sneezed or if I was lost? He had the worst colic known to man and a crooked back and he wouldn't drink his formula? Now all these words, like hypochondroplasia, dwarfism, bone scans, growth hormones and skeletal displasia make sense and are apart of my world. I have gone through so many emotions, from wondering if something was wrong, to knowing something was wrong. I have cried, smiled, informed, been informed, prayed, been OK, been not so OK. Now he is 3 years old and running, playing, talking, and living like a normal child. Sometimes we have to say goodbye to our dreams of what we thought life would be like and say hello to a new dream, a better dream. God has plans for Coleman and this is what it is. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord ; Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a future and a hope. " God has a plan for us as parents too. To learn and grow as Christians and to help our children do the same.

2 comments:

CarlosFebruary 19, 2010 at 5:25 PM
God bless you and your family. "God has a plan for us as parents too. To learn and grow as Christians and to help our children do the same." Thank you for these much needed words.
ReplyDelete
Replies
KristenFebruary 19, 2010 at 9:33 PM
your welcome Carlos.
ReplyDelete
Replies