kara and the cast: July 2011

Christmas 2010 brought several setbacks for Kara. She experienced five lacerations on the cornea of her left eye, multiple dislocations of her right patella, and a dislocation of her left hip. Kara is currently unable to walk, and has been confined to her home. On April 5, 2011 Kara underwent surgery to reset her left hip at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, in Palo Alto, CA. After discharge, Kara will have to wear a body cast for approximately two months.

This is her journey.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

SHE WALKS

Kara is doing WONDERFULLY in physical therapy!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Sitting up!

Kara has been out of her cast for a little more than 4 weeks, and is finally strong enough to sit up! She still can't move her left leg at all; it is far too weak. Also, her left ankle is curled up with atrophy. Fortunately though, Kara got her physical therapy orders and will begin next week.

Sitting up all by herself on the exam table!

I tried to get Kara to smile, but she was not having it.

Kara's Story

Kara Elizabeth Finney was born on September 27, 1991 with Partial Trisomy 17;22, a disorder causing severe developmental delay. Kara is the only known case. As an infant, Kara struggled with several hospital stays due to pneumonia and had a Nissen fundoplication to correct her diagnosis of "failure to thrive." Most of Kara's childhood was incident-free, and she was able to make progress with mobility and communication, though she remains nonverbal. Today, at 19, Kara is a vibrant young lady with a distinctive personality. She enjoys loud music (Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" is one of her favorites) , roller coasters (she doesn't hold on, and cries when the ride ends), riding horses, swimming, watching Barney, and spending time with family and friends.