Last Thursday Blake, Tate, and I headed out before 6 a.m. to go to UW Madison to see Tate’s Orthopedic Surgeon.

This appointment was for a routine check-up!

We were not allowed to bring any siblings into the building where we were headed that day, so Addie Mae was with Lane and Eliza for us.

Thanks, Ads!!

It is this surgeon that takes care of Tate’s very complex spine, but we also have a neurosurgeon who is involved in the care of Tate’s spine as well.

The orthopedic surgeon focuses more on the bones and the neurosurgeon focuses more on the spinal cord, if that makes sense.

We were super early for our appointment that day, but better early than late!

It actually worked out good, because right after they did Tate’s imaging that place filled up and they got very behind.

First a resident came in and checked Tate over thoroughly.

She was wonderful!

We love that Dr. Noonan is teaching his skills to others!

Then, after a somewhat long wait, the surgeon came in.

First, let me say, we have had the BEST year with Tate’s health since we saw this surgeon one year ago!

Also, one year is the longest we have went without any imaging of Tate’s spine – how cool is that?!

Lastly – I literally was expecting this appointment to be a fast “Tate looks perfect and stable and see you in a year!” kind of appointment.

Expectations can be no good, friends.

I should have approached this appointment like I used to – with an open mind and very prayerful heart.

OK – now about the surgeon’s words –

He told us that he had spent a long time measuring Tate’s images from that day and also from years past – all the way back to 2018 (hence our somewhat long wait for him to see us!).

He measures the degree of Tate’s scoliosis curve, just so you know, but he also looks at Tate’s organs (lungs particularly) in relation to that curve.

He said that Tate’s curve had measured the same at 62 degrees until that day.

It has increased by 5 degrees, and is now at 67 degrees, and that we cannot let it continue to worsen (there was also a diminished lung capacity).

Then he said we needed to talk about surgery.

This surgeon has not used the word surgery in over five years, so this was a hit to our hearts and minds for sure.

BUT – there is always a degree of error in measuring imaging.

AND they had new imaging machines that day which had Tate standing a different way than he ever has before, which could also cause the measuring of these new images to be off from the old ones.

THAT is what we are hoping for!!!

Thankfully our surgeon is SO, so cautious and has never wanted to do surgery unless absolutely necessary.

So, he is having us come back at Christmas time for another round of imaging and we will go from there.

The talk about surgery was a lot.

It is NOT something that any of us need in our heads right now, so we (especially me) have been pushing that conversation out of our heads and into our prayers.

The surgeon did tell us that there are not one hundred Tate’s running around, so he has no one to base his decisions on, and no data to show him the way.

He said that Tate is unique, one of a kind, and extremely complex.

He said that not only did he need to decide WHEN to operate, but he needed to decide WHAT to do.

He said that he has a team who will work with him to make these decisions, and named a neurosurgeon specifically.

Tate has spina bifida, hence the need for the neurosurgeon.

Tate has a bony formation at the top of his back and his spinal cord is split and goes around this formation and then comes back together again.

Tate has missing vertebrae, half vertebrae, and at the base of his back he has five vertebrae and some ribs that have all been fused together into a ball since birth.

Tate has a severe scoliosis that is currently at a 67 degree curvature.

Tate also has a VP shunt in his brain and a neurogenic bladder, both because of his spina bifida.

Tate is our MIRACLE – an agile, full of life, stable, amazing kiddo who takes our breath away to this day.

We are praying that the Lord will continue to keep Tate stable and that he will NEVER need surgery!

We are hopeful that the imaging in December will show that the measurements were off due to that degree of error and those new machines.

Will you join us in praying for Tate?

Tate Owen, you are brave and strong and WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!