A year ago I posted this, Star and the Broken Neck, at that time I had no idea what was going to happen to her.
Almost exactly a year later Star was taken to the theatre for the fifth time to have her second halo removed. It was an emotional day and we really had no idea what to expect. The last time she had the halo removed in March, My Angel Loses Her Halo, we noticed almost straight away that it hadn’t worked.
In June she had two operations, one a manipulation to straighten her neck, and the other was a seven hour operation to fix her spine together with pins, plates and bone graft, and we saw the return of the halo. An Update on Star
When Star came back from theatre she kept asking if the halo was off. I’m guessing it felt very strange for her. She had been fitted with a collar but the consultant had already told us it was only for her comfort. She only has to wear it when she’s feeling pain, or if we go out. She is due to have another CT scan in September along with a clinic visit and hopefully all will be well.
It feels strange looking at my little girl without a collar and with a straight neck, she looks so different, she looks so grown up.
It will take her some time to get used to using her neck properly again, and she will never regain full movement because she is pinned in place, but the big difference is she is now safe from danger.
It’s her birthday on Sunday and we are doing the same as last year, taking her to pizza hut with the whole family. Last year we were just starting out on this journey, now we are hoping it’s the beginning of the end. Of course we accept that she will never be ‘normal’ but just being out of danger and straight is enough. Maybe, in the future, there may be some way of her regaining some mobility in her neck.
When she first came around and kept asking if the halo was gone |
Enjoying a wrap, halo and collar free |
back home with her siblings |
That is a very big achievement. Love all the photos.
Glad it went much better this time and that she's enjoying life without a halo. x
She does look more grown up without them. Love her smile =) #SSAmazingAchievements
I can't believe it has been a whole year since the start of your journey. I really hope this is the end for Star. She must feel so free now. I hope she has a great birthday.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
Oh bless her, what an achievement x #SSAmazingAchievements