It is one year to the date that my life changed. On Feb. 25, 2019, I had a renaissance. A rebirth, a new beginning. I was born in the late 50’s with left congenital hip dislocation. At the time of my birth, children were not covered under insurance until they were three months old. My parents always speculated that the physicians did not tell them about my hip dislocation, until I was three months old, because there wasn’t insurance coverage.
While I had excellent care throughout my youth and teenage years, I have come to learn those first three months were a critical time with respect to my hip dislocation not becoming an issue, which it eventually did - causing extraordinary pain. As a result of my condition, my left leg was shorter than my right and I always wore a lift and had my left shoe built up by a shoemaker to accommodate the length discrepancy. I managed very well throughout life, until the last couple of years, which brought chronic pain and an inability to ambulate.
My left leg was an 1 ¼” shorter than my right leg. When I met Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle, he said he might be able to give me back the length of my left leg, but he could not promise this. I did not seek a consult with him for this reason, rather I went to Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle because the pain I was experiencing was truly unbearable. I would awake all through the night with pain, never getting relief.
Now to the present time. From when I woke up from the surgery, my pain was completely gone (there was surgical pain) but not the over-the-top pain I was living with. Furthermore, Dr. Gonzalez Della Valle evened out the length of my legs!!! I never expected this and it is a joyous circumstance.
I would also like to comment on the anesthesiologist who cared for me. His name is Dr. Jiabin Liu and he could not have been more professional or kinder. Before my procedure, Dr. Liu explained what was going to take place, in detail. Furthermore, he visited me post-op, which I never had an anesthesiologist visit me post-op before. What a gem of a man!
I wake up and go to bed thanking God for Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle and Dr. Jiabin Liu. I am eternally grateful for your treatment and care.
All by Physician