This is how I see it. The internet has brought a lot of GOOD into the world and a whole lot of BAD as well. Our phones steal away parts of our everyday life, and comparison seeps into our hearts without even knowing it. Slowly and subtly, we are losing our joy because of the impact of the internet. It’s not healthy.

However, there is another side of the internet that can be such a blessing. 

Two days ago we found out that our sweet four month old, Evy, has hip dysplasia in her left hip. Before the appointment with the specialist, I had googled my little heart out and was in tears that she may have to wear a harness. Surely that would be the worst case scenario right? Wrong.

Evy goes into the operating room on August 9th and has a procedure done where they will set her ball and socket in place and then put a cast on her from her chest to her toes. It’s permanent.. well, at least for 12 weeks.

I’m a new mom…. just hearing them say they are going to put my baby girl under anesthesia makes me feel sick…...

And then I started thinking about everything else. As we were standing in the doctors office, I had a flood of questions, and fears hit me all at once and I just cried. What about a car seat? Sitting up? Tummy time? Snuggling? Nursing? Diapers? Bathes? Crawling? Developmental delays? Will she need PT? Will this fix it? Will she have trouble walking? What if this doesn’t work? How will I hold my baby? 3 months???!!!!! She’s going to be so big when she gets this thing off of her poor body… I’m going to miss so much of her “baby” months.

Oh, I was a mess!!!! And still kinda am. I’m crying while I type this.

So what does this have to do with the goodness of the internet? 

A general google search of a SPICA CAST is terrifying…. but as we kept searching, we started to find blogs of moms who have already walked the road we’re headed down. They’ve done it all. They documented the whole thing, and they shared their tips and tricks and advice along the way. Their videos make us feel like we’re going to survive this, and the pictures of their smiling babies give us hope that our sweet girl won’t lose her joy even though she’s losing the movement and freedom of her lower body for 3 months.

I’m sure, at times, these moms thought to themselves “Why am I sharing my life like this online? This is silly…. maybe even useless”…. but it’s not!! It was just the opposite. These moms who took time to share their story have impacted OUR story.

“Stories change stories” – Esther Havens

I don’t think anything is going to keep me from bawling when I have to hand Evy over to the surgeon and watch them take her away, knowing that holding her won’t even be the same when she comes out…..

But.

Because of these stories that these women have shared…. we feel like this isn’t as weird or as scary as it initially seemed. Their stories are giving us hope, and their pictures of their kids running around reminds us that Evy needs this and we’re being good parents by putting her through this early in her little life. We want her to walk, run, sit crossed-legged, and not need a hip replacement by the age of 20.

So here’s to an unexpected adventure that I’m sure we’ll be sharing a lot about!!!

And for those of you on the fence about sharing your story and your journey, because fear is creeping in and telling you that no one will care to hear what you have to share, I’m a living example that that isn’t true!! I’m so thankful that others have put their stories out there so that we can be encouraged by them. So whether you have a story of loss, struggle, pain, or perseverance…. you have a story that is worth sharing.

I don’t believe that God wastes our pain. There will be a purpose in this new season of our life with Evy. And the best part? She’ll never remember it…. but there are going to be some really cute baby pictures of her in her cast!!! :)

Thank you to these mommas for sharing their struggles so that mommas like me can find some hope:

Caroline’s Story

Poppy’s Story

Basically the SPICA Manual

Londyn’s Story