Support the IHDI this holiday season!

Come join us for an all-levels Merry Swiftmass bodyweight and Athleta shopping event outside Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, December 10, 2023. Make a donation to to support Team Harper Jade and help raise hip dysplasia awareness and support the International Hip Dysplasia Institute and receive an Athleta gift card. Spots are filling up fast, so click below to learn more and to register.

We discovered Harper Jade had 2 dislocated hips when she was 3 months old. We saw countless orthopedic surgeons, neurologists and even a geneticist. I requested a visit with her pediatrician due to concern with her legs. She never kicked much and it was difficult to change her diaper. The pediatrician noted abnormal muscle tone and referred us to a neurologist. The neurologist requested an X-ray and that is when we discovered the superior bilateral hip dislocations. 

Harper Jade was diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia. She had an arthrogram at 4 months for an attempt at a closed reduction but it was unsuccessful. We took her to be evaluated by several orthopedic surgeons and all recommended we wait until she was at least 15 months. The waiting was hard. The surgery day came and Harper’s surgery was successful! She was placed in a spica cast from her armpits down to her toes for 8 very long weeks. 

Her cast was removed and she was placed in a rhino brace for 4 weeks. Harper started physical therapy in January of 2021 and has been progressing well. She is able to bear weight on her feet for short periods of time and walks with assistance. This is a very condensed version of Harper’s journey and we hope she continues to get stronger. 

We support Miles4hips and the IHDI because we want to bring awareness to hip dysplasia. We want to share our Harper Jade’s story so others on this journey do not feel alone, others battling this feel seen and heard, and to hopefully generate more research. 

Support Team Harper Jade

Please consider making a donation to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute to support education, research, and technology to improve the outcomes for individuals like Harper Jade. Because everyone deserves healthy, painfree hips to enjoy all the fun miles life can bring!