Kate's Hand Doctor I've mentioned before that Kate has syndactyly (I never seem to spell that correctly). In other words, webbed fingers and toes.

For those that don't know what it looks like:

[ link ]

Kate's was very similar except that her final 3 fingers, on her left hand, were joined in a similar fashion. I use to call her The Penguin (Batman Returns) for fun. More to help us deal with it that her because she probably won't care...she's just that happy of a child.

She had Complex Complete Syndactyly, meaning that the bones from each of her digits (fingers) were fused at the tip and the there was no break in the skin. (Her hands really did look like The Penguin).

The point of all this was that Kris sent me a CNN link today about Hand Camp gives kids a chance to play -- away from stares. The guy that runs it, Dr. Paul Dell, is the man who performed Kate's first 2 surgeries, separating her last 3 digits. The website for the organization is Hands To Love. Dr. Dell is the Division Chief, Hand, Upper Extremity and Microsurgery at the University of Florida and also a founding member of American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery.

Dr. Dell is a very good man. When we consulted with him I specifically said, "I just want her to be able to wear a wedding ring." That was my very first thought when I first saw her hand, "how can she wear a wedding ring?" In his surgery notes, he made specific mention of that concern. I couldn't have been happier. Kate will never be "perfect" but she's perfect to me and Kris and that is all that really matters.

So take a gander at his site and at the slides on CNN. Very moving and very worthwhile stuff.

Labels: kate

  ¶ 4/06/2009 08:54:00 PM