Baby 1st Story

I sent Savannah's story to baby first tv for a chance to appear on their programming. I don't expect to ever hear back from them, but it still felt great doing this for her. It would be cool if her story got chosen, but I'm ok if it doesn't. Anyway, here is what I submitted..

Dear Baby First Tv,

My daughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia in her left hip when she was nine months old. She was born without a fully developed left hip socket. The following month, she had a CR surgery(closed reduction), and was put in a spica body cast for 6 weeks. She endured her first Christmas in that body cast, which was really hard since she couldn’t even sit up in it to play with her toys. We had a special table made just for her so she would have some sense of normalcy while she was in her cast. The table was only part of what made her life (and ours) easier during this difficult time. The baby first tv channel was the other missing piece of the puzzle. It was the entertainment she needed during the day when nothing else would satisfy her, and at night when she was too uncomfortable to sleep. Not only was my baby entertained, but amazingly her development and language skills blossomed. She started to pick up words, identify the different animals and their sounds, some shapes, colors, letters, and many other things. It was great to watch her blossom and grow, and I enjoyed interacting with her while watching the different programs on baby first tv.

Savannah is now twenty-two months old, and even though her cast was removed right before her first birthday, she still has to continue wearing a hip brace during the night. She is being monitored every two to four months to make sure her hip socket continues to grow and develop on its own. During her most recent check-up, we discovered her hip socket stopped growing on its own. She is scheduled for a pelvic osteotomy on February 12 (time unknown), and she will be immobilized in a spica cast again for 6 weeks. We were devastated to hear things stopped progressing, but we are also really thankful to know that baby first tv is going to be there to help us through the long days and hard nights again.

Savannah loves the baby first tv channel. Her favorite programs are Peek-a-Boo, Harry the Bunny, Rainbow Horse, Petey the Paintbrush, and many others. She has learned so much, and continues to grow and blossom in her vocabulary skills. Her new favorite program is My Gym at Home. She wants to do what the other babies do on the program, but sometimes I have to modify it because of her hip. She doesn’t mind the modifications I make because she’s just happy being able to play and participate. I enjoy being able to interact with her during that program, and she loves it. She still has many nights where she is uncomfortable and sleep is difficult, and even harder nights are to come with her upcoming surgery. Baby first night-time programs were a lifesaver in the past, and even now. It’s the night-time programming that is going to help me through those long hard nights after her upcoming surgery. She loves the soft music, drawings submitted by other children, the mobiles/merry-go-round, the sand art, and the many other things seen on the night programs.

Even though the future is unknown, I know I can count on baby first tv to see us through it. Thank you for your great programs and for being there when my baby needs you the most. It would mean so much to us if Savannah’s story was chosen to appear on baby first tv. She is truly a baby first tv baby, and continues to grow and develop everyday with the help of your programming.

Sincerely,

Britany, Matthew, and Savannah McDonald

I also attached three pictures. One of her in her cast, one in her brace, and one of her now.