From Struggle to Strength: Kalani’s Story of Healing

From pre-K through second grade, Kalani was in a constant battle with leg pain.

Sharp, shooting pains made daily life a challenge for Kalani. “Running was difficult, playing tag with other kids wasn’t fun because I could never keep up with them,” he said. The pain and loss of motion in his hips even made riding a bike impossible.

Worried about their son, Kalani’s parents made repeated trips to his pediatrician in search of answers.

“We were told it’s just growing pains. When Kalani finished growing, his pain would subside,” said his mom, Ardi. Trusting the doctor, they reassured Kalani that his pain wouldn’t last forever.

But one day in second grade, Kalani’s pain spiked to an unbearable level. After trying to play with friends at recess, he struggled to walk back to class. Fortunately, his parents were volunteering at the school that day and were quickly alerted.

“It was in that moment we knew this could not just be growing pains,” said Ardi.

They rushed Kalani to the emergency room, where multiple X-rays finally revealed the truth: bilateral hip dysplasia. Both of his hip joints had not developed properly, leaving the sockets too shallow and the joints unstable.

Hip dysplasia affects about one in every 1,000 children. It often causes hip, groin and leg pain, along with limping and a reduced range of motion.

With a clear diagnosis, Kalani’s family was referred to Shriners Children’s Greenville, where he quickly met with a team of orthopedic specialists who explained that surgery would be needed.

After his life-changing surgery and months of physical therapy, Kalani is now thriving. He enjoys playing sports, riding his bike and running freely with his friends.

“Shriners Children’s Greenville is so incredible! They always go the extra mile and provide care specifically for your child. They gave Kalani a quality of life and no more pain. They’re more like family than anything,” said Ardi.