Four Surgeries, Twelve Braces and Two Full Sticker Books – Michelle's Story

When she was 2 years old, Michelle was playing in the grass one sunny day when she broke her leg.

This seemed unusual, given her age, so her primary caregiver recommended the family visit Shriners Children’s Portland.

Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia, a rare condition that involves a fracture of the tibia that fails to heal properly on its own. Common symptoms include a limp, shortening and bowing of the limb, and persistent pain. Left untreated, it could lead to significant disability, and even with treatment, the likelihood of a fracture occurring again is high.

Michelle had her first surgery at Shriners Children’s Portland, in which doctors inserted a telescopic growing rod into the tibia to grow as Michelle grew. They also took a bone graft from her pelvis to aid the healing process. The recovery process took several months, but Michelle eventually returned to her normal active childhood.

She became a regular visitor to the radiology department, as doctors kept a close eye on her progress. At every visit, the X-ray tech gave Michelle a sticker or two, which she put into her personal sticker book. The unicorns, butterflies and bears she filled the pages with brought her a sense of calm and comfort.

For added protection, doctors had Michelle go to the Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) department within Shriners Children’s Portland, where they gave her shoes to fit around the custom leg braces they made for her. “I always walked away with cool Nike shoes that could fit my new brace,” Michelle said.

A couple of years later, a second surgery was scheduled. Another telescopic rod was inserted into the tibia, more bone grafted from her hips, more braces received from POPS and several more months of recovery needed. Her sticker book was getting full, so she purchased a second one.

When she was 13, doctors decided to remove some of the growth plates from her right knee in hopes of allowing the left leg to catch up and prevent scoliosis. As Michelle continued to grow, a third and fourth surgery became necessary. The recoveries were challenging, as over the next several years she had to relearn how to balance as her legs gradually became more even.